Papers by Author: R. Ortubay

Abstract: Semisolid forging process requires special movement of the ram, until now only achievable with hydraulic presses. The upper die, placed on the press ram, must move fast during forming of the component in order to reduce segregation phenomena, and, once the part is shaped, the die must squeeze the material so that the contraction of the material is overcome and no shrinkage defects are formed. Traditional mechanical presses are not able to reproduce this kind of cycles, only possible with hydraulic presses. The introduction of servo motors in mechanical presses makes possible the achievement of those requirements, and, therefore, the use of these presses for the semisolid forging processes. The main characteristic of this type of machines is the elimination of the flywheel and the clutch; in the solution proposed by the press builder Fagor, the AC servo motor drives the ram of the press by using a transmission based on gears and a crank. This paper presents some of the results achieved during the semisolid forging of A356 aluminium alloy using a 400 tons Fagor servo motor driven mechanical press installed at the University of Mondragon.

Abstract: The achievement of lighter automotive components is an important driving force in the development and optimization of casting techniques. In this sense, semisolid forming is an emerging technology that has allowed the production of security components using aluminum alloys. The foundry alloys A356 and A357 remain, up to the present, the most used alloys for the semisolid processing of components. Nevertheless, several authors have pointed out the gain in properties that other alloy families could provide. In the present work, thixoformability of 7000 series aluminum alloys is studied. Thermodynamic calculations (CALPHAD method) and calorimetric experiments have been performed to determine the composition of alloys with an optimum process window. A modification of the 7075 alloy is proposed in order to improve its thixoformability parameters and optimize the process control. A simple component has been produced by semisolid forging and mechanical properties have been measured from tensile samples.