In a previous article I covered the industry-standard process of forging aluminum for use in everything from aircrafts to pipelines. Forged materials are up to 15% stronger than their molded counterparts and the process results in a product virtually free of imperfections, which is ideal for cosmetic surface requirements. This same process can also be applied to other metals, namely brass.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and is often used as a decoration due to its gold-like appearance. It is most notably used in the manufacturing of bathroom accessories such as faucets and piping, locks, gears, doorknobs, and musical instruments such as horns, bells, and cymbals.
Compared to other processes used to produce such accessories, there really is no comparison. Some manufacturers use a stamping process to press very thin sheets of brass into configurations, much like a cookie cutter. While this results in very lightweight products, they are also very prone to dents and will not last as long as solid forged brass. Another process involves molding a mixture of lower-quality liquid metals into shape, which are then plated in brass-like finishes. Again, these products are not nearly as durable as solid forged brass.
The forging process begins with round stock, which is cut to length and transferred into the forge ovens, heated to up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, the parts are forged using precision-machined closed die forging presses resulting in a perfectly dimensioned forging. Parts move from here to various trimming, heat-treating, washing, and finishing processes, and then to shipping or to machining or polishing. Turbocharger Cartridge,Compressor wheel The final result is stronger parts, with less waste and lower cost.