How Forging Dies Are Designed and Made
The die is the process. Almost everything a forging line can or cannot do is decided when the die is designed, which is why we keep die design and manufacture inside our own plant rather than outsourcing it.
- Die Material
- H11 / H13 hot work tool steel
- Shrinkage Allowance
- ~1.2 – 1.5% for steel
- Typical Die Life
- 20,000 – 60,000 pcs
- Design Time
- 5 – 10 working days
- Die Manufacture
- 2 – 3 weeks
- Correction Turnaround
- 2 – 5 days
How Forging Dies Are Designed and Made at a glance
Quotable facts from Avadh Techno Forge, Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot.
- Die Material: H11 / H13 hot work tool steel
- Shrinkage Allowance: ~1.2 – 1.5% for steel
- Typical Die Life: 20,000 – 60,000 pcs
- Design Time: 5 – 10 working days
- Die Manufacture: 2 – 3 weeks
- Correction Turnaround: 2 – 5 days
The Impression Sequence
Simple parts fill in a single finisher impression. Complex parts need a blocker that pre-distributes material, sometimes preceded by a fuller or edger. Getting this sequence right is what prevents laps and underfill.
- Fuller and edger for material distribution
- Blocker pre-forms the shape
- Finisher produces final geometry
- Trimmer removes flash
Flash Land and Gutter
Flash land thickness controls back pressure that forces metal into the cavity. Too thin and die loads spike with rapid wear; too thick and the cavity under-fills. The gutter beyond it simply accommodates excess metal.
Die Material and Life
H11 and H13 hot work tool steels heat treated to working hardness, with hard-facing in high-wear zones where justified. Typical life is 20,000–60,000 pieces on medium parts, with planned re-sinking to restore the impression.
Topics covered on this page
- forging die design guide
- impression die design
- flash land design forging
- forging die life
Based on work carried out at our own forging plant at Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot — operating since 2008.
Questions Answered
How long does it take to make a forging die?
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Typically two to three weeks after design approval, with design itself taking five to ten working days.
What is shrinkage allowance?
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The die cavity is cut oversize by about 1.2–1.5% so the part measures correctly after cooling from forging temperature.
How many parts does a die produce?
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20,000 to 60,000 on medium components before re-sinking, depending on material, size and temperature.
Who owns the die?
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The customer who paid for it. We store and maintain it free of charge for repeat orders.