01 Different manufacturing processes
Casting: It is a metal part obtained by pouring liquid metal or molten metal alloy into the mold, and then releasing the mold after cooling and solidification. The process is similar to pouring melted wax into a mold to make a wax figure, but the material is changed to metal.
Forging: It is the use of forging hammer, press and other equipment to forge or extrude the metal blank, so that it produces plastic deformation, so as to obtain the required shape and size of the metal products. The forging process is similar to how dough is molded into various shapes in the hands of a cook.
02 Shape and structure
Casting: Can produce a variety of complex shapes of parts, including curves, thin walls, uneven structure, its shape and size is mainly determined by the mold.
Forgings: Although complex shapes can be made, their shape and size are less flexible than castings. Forgings are more focused on improving the internal organization and properties of metals through the forging process.
03 Performance and quality
Castings: Defects are prone to occur in the manufacturing process, such as pores, inclusions, etc., which may affect the mechanical properties and durability of the castings. In addition, the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the casting may also be relatively low.
Forgings: In the forging process, the metal blank is subjected to pressure, its internal organization is densified, and the mechanical properties are significantly improved. The strength, hardness, wear resistance and tensile strength of forgings are usually better than those of castings. At the same time, the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the forging are relatively high.
04 Cost and efficiency
Castings: Because it can be produced in large quantities and the manufacturing process is relatively simple, the production cost is low and the production efficiency is high.
Forgings: The production cost is relatively high because the forging equipment is expensive and the forging process requires a lot of energy and manpower. However, the high performance and high quality of forgings can often compensate for this cost disadvantage.
05 Which is more commonly used
Castings and forgings have their own application areas and advantages, which is more commonly used depends on the specific application scenario and needs.
In the need for mass production, complex shapes and mechanical properties are not very high requirements, castings may be more commonly used. For example, automobile engine cylinder blocks and other parts are often manufactured by casting process.
Forgings are more suitable for occasions where mechanical properties, dimensional accuracy and surface quality are required. For example, high-technology products such as aircraft engine shells and spacecraft parts are often manufactured by forging process.
