Analysis of the Impact of the Machine on the Forging Process of a Connecting Rod using Numerical Simulation

The application of numerical simulations of production technologies, using the finite element method or the finite volume method, is a widely used approach in advanced engineering design and research. Unlike industrial experiments, this approach allows the analysis of the influence of different process parameters on the output performance of a workpiece. The paper analyzes the influence of the choice of the machine on the forging process of the connecting rod, which is made, among other things, for the needs of the auto industry. For this purpose, numerical experiments were carried out, using the finite volume method and the Simufact.forming software package, with variations of three types of forging machines: drop forging hammer, crank press and screw press. Finally, the results of the numerical experiments and conducted analyses are presented, with concluding considerations and recommendations.