Net Shape Forming Process for Ball Stud Using High Strength Micro-Alloyed Cold Forging Steel

Micro-alloyed steel or heat-treatment-free used in clean technology have been replacing for conventional quenched-and-tempered structural steels since the micro-alloyed forging steel was developed in early 1970s in Germany for saving money of heat treatment, simplified process, short delivery and good productivity. In this paper, ball stud assembled in steering system for automobile was selected to compare conventional process making heat treatment with new process using high strength micro-alloyed steel without heat treatment. The conventional process for ball stud was composed of a total of 6 steps including upsetting, forward extrusion, machining, burnishing and tread rolling with heat treatment and shot blasting. As opposed to conventional process, newly proposed process for ball stud using the clean technology without heat treatment is simplified such as forward extrusion, heading, upsetting, forming having a flange shape and tread rolling. Also net shape forming process to achieve specified process not to include machined step fur manufacturing the ball stud was applied to newly simplified process since micro-alloyed steel is difficult to be formed.

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