The invention relates to a method for working a metal casting strand (17) that is round in cross-section, by means of a reduction in cross-section in the final solidification region with the aid of at least three forming tools which are distributed around the circumference and act simultaneously on the casting strand (17). In order to provide advantageous working conditions, according to the invention the casting strand (17) is formed by forging tools (2, 3) constituting the forming tools in a longitudinal portion for each forming stroke, which portion corresponds to at least a fourth of the strand diameter before the reduction in cross-section, and the forging tools (2, 3) are rotated by an angle step about the axis of the casting strand (17) between the forming strokes.

The invention relates to a method for working a metal casting strand (17) that is round in cross-section, by means of a reduction in cross-section in the final solidification region with the aid of at least three forming tools which are distributed around the circumference and act simultaneously on the casting strand (17). In order to provide advantageous working conditions, according to the invention the casting strand (17) is formed by forging tools (2, 3) constituting the forming tools in a longitudinal portion for each forming stroke, which portion corresponds to at least a fourth of the strand diameter before the reduction in cross-section, and the forging tools (2, 3) are rotated by an angle step about the axis of the casting strand (17) between the forming strokes.

A radial press has a plurality of press bodies arranged around a press axis which can be moved radially in relation to the press axis, and a drive unit for shifting the press bodies in the direction of or away from the press axis. The press bodies each have a main jaw and a pressing jaw, which is fixed interchangeably on the main jaw. The main jaws each comprise a radially inwardly arranged pressing-jaw-supporting surface and, adjacent to the latter in the circumferential direction, two side surfaces. The pressing jaws butt against the pressing-jaw-supporting surface of the associated main jaw and have a fixing protrusion, which projects from the abutment surface, enters into a mount provided on the main jaw and interacts with a locking device. Each main jaw has a recess on its supporting surface which extends from the mount and opens out on one of the side surfaces.

A method for producing a shaft, which is at least partially not circular in cross-section, from a substantially cylindrical blank by means of radial forging, wherein the blank is not rotated in a final radial forging process.

The invention relates to a four-die press tool (1), comprising a lower die assembly (4) and an upper die assembly (6) displaceable relative thereto, comprising four rams (10, 11, 12, 13) spaced apart and supported on the lower die assembly (4) or the upper die assembly (6) and carrying forging dies (29), and a ring (20) on which are mounted the four rams (10, 11, 12, 13) concentrically around the central press axis (28) of the four-die press tool (1) in such a way that they can be displaced relative to the central press axis (28) whenever the upper die assembly (6) is moved relative to the lower die assembly (4), wherein protecting means (35) are mounted on the ring (20) to secure a workpiece in a centered position on a central predetermined position of the workpiece relative to the central press axis (28) independently of a workpiece manipulator.

The invention relates to a four-die press tool (1), comprising a lower die assembly (4) and an upper die assembly (6) displaceable relative thereto, comprising four rams (10, 11, 12, 13) spaced apart and supported on the lower die assembly (4) or the upper die assembly (6) and carrying forging dies (29), and a ring (20) on which are mounted the four rams (10, 11, 12, 13) concentrically around the central press axis (28) of the four-die press tool (1) in such a way that they can be displaced relative to the central press axis (28) whenever the upper die assembly (6) is moved relative to the lower die assembly (4), wherein protecting means (35) are mounted on the ring (20) to secure a workpiece in a centered position on a central predetermined position of the workpiece relative to the central press axis (28) independently of a workpiece manipulator.

A method for projecting a production process for producing a workpiece with a desired formation of a characteristic feature of the workpiece is implemented by a computer system. Using the method, the desired formation of the characteristic feature of the workpiece is detected and compared with formations of the characteristic feature of preceding workpieces. The formations of the characteristic feature of the preceding workpieces are stored in a formation database and a production parameter that is stored in a parameter database. When a formation of the characteristic feature of a preceding workpiece that is relevant to the desired formation of the characteristic feature is established with reference to the definition of the production parameter, the production parameter is defined for the production process for producing the workpiece with the desired formation of the characteristic feature.

A method for projecting a production process for producing a workpiece with a desired formation of a characteristic feature of the workpiece is implemented by a computer system. Using the method, the desired formation of the characteristic feature of the workpiece is detected and compared with formations of the characteristic feature of preceding workpieces. The formations of the characteristic feature of the preceding workpieces are stored in a formation database and a production parameter that is stored in a parameter database. When a formation of the characteristic feature of a preceding workpiece that is relevant to the desired formation of the characteristic feature is established with reference to the definition of the production parameter, the production parameter is defined for the production process for producing the workpiece with the desired formation of the characteristic feature.

A radial forging machine comprising one or more forging devices arranged radially about a first longitudinal axis (Z) of feeding of the product to be forged, a respective tool (5) being able to be mounted on each of said forging devices, characterized in that there is provided an automatic tool loading/unloading system for automatically loading/unloading said tools (5) onto/from said forging devices without the manual intervention of an operator.

A radial forging machine comprising one or more forging devices arranged radially about a first longitudinal axis (Z) of feeding of the product to be forged, a respective tool (5) being able to be mounted on each of said forging devices, characterized in that there is provided an automatic tool loading/unloading system for automatically loading/unloading said tools (5) onto/from said forging devices without the manual intervention of an operator.