What are compression fitting spanners made of?
What are compression fitting
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Compression fitting spanners are made from drop forged steel. Drop forging makes the steel much harder which is ideal for compression fitting spanners, as they have to turn a compression fitting nut (also made from metal). A harder material is less likely to become damaged by the force of the turn. | |||
Drop forging |
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Drop forging is the process of heating metal and hammering it into the desired shape. Objects that have been forged will be stronger than those made through casting, machining or fabrication. | |||
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Compression fitting spanners are made using a type of drop forging called ‘closed die’ drop forging. Closed die drop forging uses a mould (die) with a ram that drops down onto the heated metal to create the forged shape. This is as opposed to open die drop forging, which uses the traditional method of hitting the metal with a hammer. | |||
How is a closed die drop forged spanner made? |
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Stage 1A heated piece of steel is placed between two halves of a die (moulds). |
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Stage 2The top mould is dropped from a height onto the heated metal, pressing it into the mould shape. |
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Stage 3Separate the two halves and the shaped piece can be removed immediately |
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Stage 4Any excess material around the shape, known as ‘flash’, is removed after the forging process. |
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