Speciality Services
Brass Aluminum Forging Enterprises offers a wide range of specialty, or “value-added,” services to provide a complete solution beyond just forming the raw material. These services streamline the manufacturing process for customers, reduce costs, and ensure the final part meets precise specifications.
Engineering & Prototyping
1
Design & Tooling Assistance
BAFE employs engineers who work with customers to optimize their part design for the forging process. This includes advising on draft angles, radii, and other features to improve forgeability and reduce material waste. They also design and manufacture the specialized dies required for each part.
2
Forging Simulation
Using advanced software, BAFE can simulate the forging process to analyze metal flow and identify potential defects before any dies are cut. This reduces development time and costs.
3
Prototyping & Small-Batch Production
While forging is often associated with high-volume manufacturing, BAFE also offers services for creating prototypes or producing small batches of parts for testing and validation.
Technical Capabilities & Quality Standards
Post-Forging Processes
After the part is forged and trimmed, it often requires additional work to achieve its final properties and dimensions. Brass Aluminum Forging Enterprises performs these services in-house, creating a “one-stop shop” for customers.
- Heat Treatment: This is a crucial step to achieve the desired mechanical properties, like strength and hardness, in the aluminum alloy. BAFE offers various heat treatments, including solution heat treatment, quenching, and artificial aging.
- Machining: Forged parts are often “near-net shape,” meaning they are close to the final dimensions but require further machining to meet tight tolerances. BAFE offers CNC machining to add features like threads, holes, or intricate surfaces.
- Surface Finishing: To improve corrosion resistance, appearance, and durability, BAFE provides services such as anodizing, shot blasting, and powder coating. Anodizing creates a protective oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum. Parting/Trim Line Removal: The flash extension material created during the trim operation may be required to be removed per the customer specification through a polishing or buffing operation.
Quality Assurance & Logistics
Quality control is paramount in the forging industry, especially for critical applications like aerospace and automotive.
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): This includes methods like liquid penetrant inspection to check for internal flaws or surface cracks without damaging the part.
- Metallurgical Testing: BAFE has in-house labs to perform tensile testing, hardness testing, and microstructural analysis to ensure the forged part meets all specified material properties.
- Certifications: BAFE holds specific certifications: ISO 9001, CQI-9, and AS9100, which are often required by customers in the aerospace and defense industries. Inventory & Logistics Management: To support just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing, some companies offer warehousing and supply chain management services, holding stock and managing shipments to meet customer production schedules.