Cold Forming Wiki
Technical reference for cold forming processes, machine parameters, and forming technology — written for engineers and production professionals.
Backward Extrusion
Backward extrusion forms hollow cavities in a blank by forcing a punch into the material. The metal flows backward — opposite to the punch travel direction — forming a cup or deep hole.
Changeover Time
Changeover time is the total time required to stop production on one part, replace tooling, set up the machine, and produce the first good part of the next job. It is a key productivity metric in cold forming.
Cold Forming
Cold forming is a high-speed metal shaping process where wire is cut to length at room temperature and displaced through successive die cavities — without removing material.
Forward Extrusion
Forward extrusion reduces the diameter of a wire blank by forcing it through a die orifice smaller than the original diameter. The material flows in the same direction as the punch travel.
Heading Tonnage
Heading tonnage is the maximum forming force a progressive header can deliver at the die face, expressed in metric tons or kilonewtons. It is the primary sizing parameter when selecting a machine.
Progressive Header
A progressive header is a multi-station cold forming press that transforms a wire blank into a finished part across 5 or 6 successive forming stations in a single machine cycle.
Upset / Upsetting
Upsetting is a cold forming operation that enlarges the cross-section of a blank by compressing it axially. It is the fundamental operation for forming heads on bolts, screws, and fasteners.
Warm Forming
Warm forming is the cold forming of metal preheated to a controlled temperature — between room temperature and hot forging — to increase ductility without causing recrystallization or grain growth.
Zero Clearance
Zero clearance refers to the complete elimination of mechanical play in the ram and transfer systems of a progressive header. It is the foundation of high-speed precision forming.
Have a production challenge?
Our engineering team can advise on machine selection, tooling, and forming process design.