Hot forging process design and parameters determination of magnesium alloy AZ31B spur bevel gear

Magnesium alloys have relatively low workability at room temperatures due to hexagonal crystal structure. In general, the forging process of magnesium alloys is considered to be very difficult because of the poor flowability and the sensitivity to the temperature and strain rate. Taken spur bevel gear as an example, the hot forging process of the complicated shape parts of magnesium alloy AZ31B was investigated by means of finite element (FE) simulations combined with experiments. After the two-stage hot forming process (preforming operation without gear shape and finish forging operation) was determined, the influence of various shapes of preform dies on the hot forging process was discussed by the commercial finite element analysis software Marc, and the optimum preform die shape was obtained. According to the numerical simulation results, the hot forging experiments of magnesium alloy AZ31B spur bevel gear were successfully conducted. By comparison between experimental load–stroke curves and the calculated ones, it shows that the calculated results are consistent with the experimental ones.