Forging Die Design & Tooling
The die decides whether a forging fills, whether it cracks and how long the tooling lasts. Because die design, CAM programming and die sinking all happen inside our plant, we control that variable directly instead of waiting on an outside tool room.
- Die Material
- H11 / H13 hot work tool steel
- Design Software
- 3D CAD with CAM output
- Typical Die Life
- 20,000 – 60,000 pcs
- Sample Lead Time
- 3 – 5 weeks
- Die Correction Turnaround
- 2 – 5 days
- Die Storage
- Maintained in-house for repeat orders
Forging Die Design & Tooling at a glance
Quotable facts from Avadh Techno Forge, Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot.
- Die Material: H11 / H13 hot work tool steel
- Design Software: 3D CAD with CAM output
- Typical Die Life: 20,000 – 60,000 pcs
- Sample Lead Time: 3 – 5 weeks
- Die Correction Turnaround: 2 – 5 days
- Die Storage: Maintained in-house for repeat orders
From Part Drawing to Die Model
Draft angles, fillet radii, flash land geometry, parting line placement and shrinkage allowance are all decided at this stage. Get the parting line wrong and grain flow is compromised for the life of the part; get the flash land wrong and either the die under-fills or it wears out early.
- Parting line and grain flow planning
- Draft, fillet and shrinkage allowances
- Blocker and finisher impression design
- Flash land and gutter sizing
Die Materials and Life
Dies are cut from hot work tool steels such as H11 and H13, heat treated to the correct working hardness and, where the part warrants it, hard-faced in high-wear zones. Typical die life on medium components runs into tens of thousands of pieces with scheduled re-sinking.
Speed and Cost Advantage
In-house tooling is why first article samples take three to five weeks rather than eight or ten, and why a die correction after trial takes days. It also means the die stays in our custody, ready for your repeat order without a third-party negotiation.
The Parameters a Die Designer Sets
Almost everything a forging can achieve is decided when its die is designed. These are the parameters that get fixed at that point, and the consequences of getting each one wrong.
| Parameter | Typical value | If it is wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Parting line position | Largest section, flat plane | Fibre ends surface at a stressed fillet |
| External draft | 3° – 7° | Part sticks in the cavity |
| Internal draft | 5° – 10° | Part grips the die core as it shrinks |
| Fillet radii | ≈ 3 mm minimum, larger preferred | Laps form; die cracks early |
| Flash land thickness | Set for the part | Too thin: die overload. Too thick: underfill |
| Shrinkage allowance | ≈ 1.2 – 1.5% for steel | Every piece systematically out of size |
| Blocker impressions | As the geometry needs | Laps and underfill on complex parts |
Die Manufacture and Life
Dies are cut from H11 or H13 hot work tool steel and heat treated to a working hardness that resists thermal fatigue and abrasion at contact temperatures above 1,000°C. Impressions are machined by CNC, with detail that cutters cannot reach finished by EDM. Typical die life on medium components runs from 20,000 to 60,000 pieces, after which the worn impression is re-sunk — recut slightly deeper to restore dimensions — a cycle that can usually be repeated several times before the block is exhausted.
- H11 / H13 hot work tool steel, heat treated
- CNC machining with EDM for fine detail
- Typical life 20,000 – 60,000 pieces before re-sinking
- Dies preheated before production to avoid thermal shock
Why In-House Tooling Changes Your Lead Times
When die design and die sinking sit inside the plant, first article samples take three to five weeks rather than eight or ten, and a correction after trial takes two to five days rather than weeks of waiting on an outside tool room. It also means the die stays in our custody, ready for your repeat order without a third-party negotiation. A die belongs to the customer who paid for it, and we store and maintain customer dies free of charge — see tooling ownership.
People also ask
How long does it take to make a forging die?
Two to three weeks after design approval, with design itself taking five to ten working days.
Who keeps the die after production?
The customer owns a die they paid for; we store and maintain it free of charge so repeat orders carry no further tooling cost.
Topics covered on this page
- forging die design India
- forging die manufacturer Rajkot
- die sinking tool room Gujarat
- forging tooling supplier
Based on work carried out at our own forging plant at Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot — operating since 2008.
Questions Answered
Who owns the die I pay for?
+
The customer owns a die they have paid for. We store and maintain it free of charge for scheduled repeat production.
How much does a forging die cost?
+
It depends on part size and complexity. We quote die cost separately and transparently alongside the piece price, so you can see exactly what is amortised.
How long does die life last?
+
Typically 20,000 to 60,000 pieces on medium components before re-sinking, depending on material, temperature and part geometry.
Can you improve an existing die that under-fills?
+
Yes. Send the die or the problem part, and our tool room diagnoses the fill or wear issue and corrects the impression.