Cold Forming and Cold Heading Services

Cold forming and cold heading services form metal by placing it under pressure, without adding heat, until a desired shape is achieved. Cold heading is commonly used to manufacture bolts, rivet nuts, and other types of fasteners. A cold forming service, more commonly known as a cold heading service, is similar to a metal forging operation, but does not apply heat. Cold forming uses a cold roll forming machine to apply force to shape a metal blank. The blank is placed into a die and a punch is then pressed into the blank. If the force applied exceeds the metal’s elastic limit, the blank will take the shape of the punch and die. Cold heading, which includes upsetting and extrusion, is often performed along with other cold forming operations, such as sizing, piercing, trimming, thread rolling, blank rolling and pointing.

Cold forming and cold heading services are often a more cost effective alternative to traditional metalworking. Cold forming and cold heading services also offer several advantages over machining from solids. These advantages include saving on raw materials, reducing the time needed to machine parts, improving component properties, and allowing for unique and diverse shapes, including parts with multiple diameters, extrusions, blind holes and through holes.

Cold forming and cold heading services are most often used to produce fasteners. Cold forming and cold heading services are, however, becoming higher-speed, automated, and multi-station operations that are capable of producing complex metal fasteners and other components. As cold heading and cold forming machinery continues to advance, providers of cold forming and cold heading services are increasingly able to manufacture components that range from sparks plugs, axles to complex parts that could previously only be made with machining technology. As metallurgical knowledge increases, cold forming and cold heading services will also be possible with tougher materials and alloys.

Pages: 1 - 3 of 270