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MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

Cold Heading

Cold heading is a manufacturing process used to create engineered fasteners and components by forming metal without the application of heat.

The Process of Cold Heading:

1. Material Selection:

  • Typically, ductile metals like alloy steels, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and nickel alloys are chosen for cold heading due to their malleability.


2. Wire Preparation:

  • A metal wire, which serves as the raw material, is cut to the desired length, often referred to as a “slug.”


3. Cold Forming:

  • The wire or slug is inserted into a die and subjected to high-pressure force using a punch.

  • The metal deforms plastically to take the shape of the die and punch, without requiring heating beyond room temperature.


4. Multiple Stages (Optional):

  • Complex fasteners or components may require several stages of heading, where the part is progressively shaped into the desired geometry.


5. Trimming and Threading:

  • Excess material is trimmed, and threads or other detailed features are added if needed.


6. Heat Treatment and Coating (Post-Process):

  • While cold heading itself avoids heating, parts may undergo heat treatment after forming to enhance strength or other properties.

  • Surface coatings can be applied for added corrosion resistance.

Advantages of Cold Heading:

Strength: The process aligns the grain structure of the material, enhancing the mechanical properties of the fasteners.


Precision: It allows for tight tolerances, critical for engineered components used in demanding applications.


Cost-Effectiveness: Material wastage is minimized compared to machining, and the process is highly efficient for mass production.


Surface Finish: Produces a smooth surface, reducing the need for additional finishing operations.


Applications in Engineered Fasteners:

Cold heading is particularly suited for producing high-performance fasteners used in industries like:


Aerospace and Defense: For lightweight, high-strength components.


Oil & Gas and Marine: For corrosion-resistant fasteners exposed to harsh environments.


Automotive and Robotics: For precision-engineered fasteners that require tight tolerances.

Cold Heading

Hot Heading

EDM

Milling

Turning

Swiss Machining

Drilling

Laser Marking

Roll Threading

Cut Threading

Heat Treatment

  • Austenitizing

  • Tempering

  • Normalizing

  • Stress Relieving

Stamping

Grinding

Polishing

Broaching

MANUFACTURING

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