November 2022 Volume 4

MAINTENANCE

die life as metal-to-metal contact is augmented. When they are too hot, lubricant can dry, but the die is too hot which can cause boiling. Careful control of die temperatures is key to a successful forging process and cannot be overcome by any lubrication technology. Another factor that affects the coating of a lubricant on the tooling is the pressure at which the lubricant is sprayed. If the pressure is too low, and the droplets of diluted lubricant are not at a high enough velocity as they are being delivered to the tool surface, then the drops are often too small and dry spray can occur. On the other hand, if the droplets are at too high of a velocity on their way to the tool surface, theymay bounce off the die surface and not stick as intended to create a film. Ideally, the die should be maintained between 300 450F for fully water-based products forming carbon steel to achieve the correct drying times needed to create the intended film. Dies for forming non-ferrous alloys are often kept at different temperatures due to the nature of the forming process as well as a different lubricant carrier. Knowing the specific die temperature needed for your process is extremely important for a lubricant to optimally form parts. Each part of the lubricant has its role to play, both the carrier and the chosen lubricating medium. If both portions of the lubricant are in the correct ratio and correctly formulated, then you will have a successful forging process with no unexpected decreases in die life or wear. If you think your metalforming process can be optimized using a better balance of lubrication and application, call the experts at AML. We keep things running smoothly.

APPLY Power and accuracy

Frank Sobnosky Jr. Chemical Engineer AML Industries, Inc Phone: 330-399-5000 Email: fsobnosky@amlube.com

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FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2022 33