radial forging technology

GFM

I N N O V AT I O N F O R O U R W O R LD

S K K
gfm radial forging technology G F M F O R G I N G T E C H N O LO GY
In all technical fields, where mass needs to be accelerated, energy saving light weight
designs, become increasingly important.
GFM meets these demands for lower weight and higher strength, through radial swaging
over a mandrel. The number of applications are steadily increasing, especially in
automotive fields, as in the powertrain-, chassis- and steering systems.
The aerospace industry as well, benefits from improved material properties, through
chip-less manufacturing.

COLD-WARM-HOT – FORMING
GFM technology, the true innovation for your specific applications and material
characteristic.
COMBINED AXIAL- RADIAL FORMING
Upsetting and swaging in one step, to gain the ideal geometry of your workpiece.
SWAGING – A FLEXIBLE FORMING VARIATION
Short cycle times, ideal grain flow and best surface quality – are potential considerations
for material- and weight savings, as well as use of low cost material grades.
RADIAL FORGING
High alloyed steels have been successfully formed for decades on GFM radial forging
machines. This forming procedure is best suitable for working with exotic alloys as well
as composite materials.
FLEXIBILITY
GFM develops forming technologies for new applications, while the forging machine
remains basically unchanged. This offers our customers the capability of producing new
parts by adapting the forging tools and programs only.

W E I G H T- A N D S T R E N G T H A D V A N TA G E S
SKK

DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCE: We assist our customers in all phases, from

conceptive design, to process development, up to prototype and the initial production
forging.

A P P L I C AT I O N F I E L D S
Typical applications for GFM forging machines are found in:
automotive industry, truck and transportation business, railway industry, aircraft
industry, medical technology as well as special application areas.

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 A D VA N TA G E
Highest productivity

· Through the use of a swaging mandrel, outside and inside contours

are produced simultaneously thereby reducing manufacturing steps.

·· No prior coating, phosphate or surface treatments are required.

Low setup time due to continuously variable and CNC controlled feed- and
auxiliary movements.

Material savings

· The material is not removed but deformed, resulting in better material

utilization.

· Costs for collection, transport and disposal of chips are not applicable.

Cost effective materials

·· No temperature- and material limitations.

Creating special geometries on tubular products, exceeding conventional
possibilities by far.

S H O R T E S T S E T- U P T I M E S
O P T I M I Z E D M AT E R I A L U T I L I Z AT I O N
P R E C I S E I N N E R C O N TO U R S

I N N O V AT I O N F O R O U R W O R LD

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 GFM – RADIAL FORGING MACHINE

Drive system:
Four mechanically driven tools, arranged in one plane, shape the work piece radialy.
The hammer stroke results from eccentric shafts, rotating at high speed. The adjustment
units, placed between the eccentric shafts and the forging tools, control the exact
diameter, thus allowing for the manufacture of both, stepped and conical workpiece
contours. The power transfer is performed via an electric motor, gear box, eccentric shafts
and ram units.
Special attention has been paid to the diameter adjustment system.
A superior, patented tool adjustment design,
guarantees the most accuracy, while also
covering a wide dimensional range.

Design features:
Forces are taken up by area – rather than line contact.
Closed system with internal lubrication guarantees
a constant temperature of the forging box, consequently
ensures highest part-to-part repeatability.
This is why workpieces can be forged cold, semi-hot and hot.
No need to forge parts in oil or emulsions, respectively coating or
phosphate them.
Hence we provide a clean process, that protects and preserves
the environment. This design allows hammer blows at high
frequency, combined with reliable performance.

TYPE, MODELL SKK-06 SKK-10 SKK-14 SKK-17 SKK-21 SKK-27

Max. blank diameter (mm) 60 100 140 170 210 270
Forging force (kN) 800 1.250 2.000 2.800 6.000 4.000
Max. power of forging motor (kW) 75 132 200 350 600 600
Diameter adjustment (mm) 60 60 100 120 100 190

Auxiliary- and special equipment:

Chuckhead – for work piece handling during the forming operation. In the case of
long bars or tubes, two chuck heads are used.
Counterholder – for axial clamping of work pieces, combined with mandrel- or upset
units, allows production of complex parts.
Mandrel equipment – depending on the application, one or more mandrel operating units are
used simultaneously. 20µm
Workpiece handling – robots, transfer systems or special load and unload devices, depending
on the application.
Workpiece handling – Integration of customized heating unit in forging cell.

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 GFM General concept
C O N T R O L A N D A U TO M AT I S AT I O N
The sophisticated GFM-CNC control has been developed for the GFM forming process
and offers a complete technological package, with all necessary software tools.
Sensory analysis and control hardware are quality driven, industry proven, and long lasting
commercially available. This means low upgrade cost in the future.

Customer specific solutions regarding the machine operation and process control are
smoothly integrated into the digital process technology and graphical interface.
Modules for common data collection and statistical evaluations (SPC) are optionally
available.
High, steadily constant quality and capability through an automatic process sequence
and a closed interconnected overall design.
The digital and free configurable 64-channel oscilloscope software, provided for visuali-
zation and storage of data and signals, is included, as well as the interactive electric circuit
and the machine operation manuals.
Fast reactions at possible process deviations are enabled through a fully automatic
sensing of the process data.
The minimum life cycle of original and replacement components is 15 years. This is why
GFM controls excel in life cycles, compared with conventional controls. Interchangeability
of components and various future upgrading solutions ensure trouble free operation for
decades.

HIGH Q U A L I T Y A N D C A PA B I L I T Y

I N N O V AT I O N F O R O U R W O R LD

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 Decades of experience in control technique for forging machines, ensures
customer advantages on various levels.

Process safety

·· Automatic operation ensures lowest scrap rates.

Automatic monitoring of process data allows instant optimization.

Low time consumption

·· The complete machine manual is available on the control screen.

No manual setup of CNC control.

· Menu guided fault corrections.

High flexibility – lower cost

·· Linking possibility of old and new machines – low expansion cost.

Automatic visualization at workpiece change.

W I T H G F M F O R G I N G T E C H N O LO GY –
COST REDUCTIONS IN
ALL LEVELS

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 Highest productivity

· Short setup times.

· Less manufacturing steps.

A D V A N TA G E S A N D B E N E F I T S O F T H E G F M - S Y S T E M

· No surface treatment.

Less expensive materials

· · No temperature and material limitations.

· · Creating of tubular geometries, with varying outside diameters

and wall thickness.

· Improvement of workpiece properties, as well as surface quality.

Material saving

· Highest material utilization through radial forging.

· Increased design possibilities for weight optimized components.

· Monitoring of material over length.

Low time consumption

· Automatic monitoring and evaluation of process data.

· Reduced setup times.

· High repeatability due to the most advanced CNC control,

designed specifically for radial forging.

· Efficient operator guidance for troubleshooting.

· On-line help.

High flexibility – reduced cost

· Swaging in cold, semi-hot or hot conditions.

· Full automatic mode, even for small lots.

· Complex internal contours like involute spline gear.

Extract from our reference list
GFM forging machines for automotive- and special applications

Advanced Turbine (USA)

Aesculap (Germany)
Allvac (USA)
ATI Allvac Monroe (USA)
ATI Wah Chang (USA)
Bäuerle (Germany)
BBE – Bahntechnik Brand Erbisdorf (Germany)
Böhler Schmiedetechnik (Austria)
Carpenter (USA)
DaimlerChrysler (Germany)
Dalmine (Italy)
Delphi Steering (USA)
Erasteel Champagnole (France)
Erkert (Germany)
First Rixon Steel (UK)
Gesenkschmiede Schneider (Germany)
GKN do Brasil (Brazil)
GKN Driveline (France)
GKN Driveline Deutschland (Germany)
GKN Toyoda (Japan)
GPO Uralwagonzavod (Russia)
Haynes International (UK)
H.C. Starck (USA)
Heartland Extrusion Forge (UK)
Jiangsu Tiangong Indust. Group (China)
Jinxi Machinery Plant (China)
Kobe Seiko (Japan)
Magna Drivetrain (Austria)
Marle (France)
Maschinenwerk Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)
MUBEA Fahrwerksfedern (Germany)
Muhr und Bender (Germany)
Opel (Germany)
Plansee (Austria)
Rail Wheel Factory (India)
Sarma (France)
Shaanxi Fast Gear (China)
Solida (Germany)
Stealth Medical Technologies (USA)
Sumitomo (Japan)
Symmetry Medical (USA)
Taijuan Heavy Machinery (China)
Thermotechnik (Croatia)
ThyssenKrupp Federn (Germany)
ThyssenKrupp Turbinenkomponenten (Germany)
Trinity Rail (USA)
Turbomotor Works (Russia)
V & M – Brazil (Brazil)
V & M – Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes (France)
Voest-Alpine Präzisrohrtechnik (Austria)
Western Superconducting Technologies (China)
Zanzi (Italy)
ZF Lenksysteme (Germany)
 I N N O VAT I O N F O R O U R W O R L D

WWW.WHAT1.AT
Established in 1945 in Steyr, Upper-Austria, GFM has developed a worldwide reputation for the
development and production of precision forging machines.
The rivers Enns and Steyr have been the life line of Steyr, a city which traces its roots to 980 AD.
Large enterprises, as well as many small and medium companies,
with international operating research and development centers indicate the important role of Steyr,
as a modern industry hub.
Today’s expectations and requirements, in the metal working industry – production facilities with
high volume, quality and capability - is met by GFM with permanent research and future development,
to continue the successful path, that started several decades ago.

GFM patents find their applications all over the world, through our customers, who appreciate the
know-how, precision and passion for future improvements of GFM.

Sister companies: American GFM Corporation in Virginia, USA,

GFM (UK) Limited, Wellingborough und GFM Ural

ISO-9001 certified

E 02/2005/3000
GFM GmbH, Ennser Straße 14, A-4403 Steyr, Austria
Phone ++43 / 72 52/898-0, Fax ++43 / 72 52/80953
E-mail: forging@gfm.at, http://www.gfm.at

American GFM Corporation GFM (UK) LIMITED, Bradfield Road, Finedon Road Industrial Estate
1200 Cavalier Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA 23323, USA Wellingborough, Northants NN8 44B, England,
Phone (757) 487-2442, Fax (757)-487-5274 Phone ++44 1933/402-833, Fax ++44 1933/402-884
E-mail: sales@agfm.com, http://www.agfm.com E-mail: gfm.uk@virgin.net, http://www.gfmuk.net