Industrial Hardware

Industrial Hardware F-9: One-Piece Forged Aluminum Lever with Serrated Head

Industrial Hardware F-9 is an aluminum hot forging produced by Al Forge Tech (AFT) in Taiwan. It combines a long round shank with a serrated (knurled) circular head, forged as a single piece with no welding or assembly. This configuration is typically used for operating levers, swing arms and actuating mechanisms in machinery, where the serrated head engages a mating part to transmit torque.

Compared with machining the whole part from bar stock, forging extends the grain flow along the shank and carries it continuously into the head, keeping an unbroken flow line at the shank-to-head transition where stress concentrates. AFT completes heat treatment and CNC machining of the serrations, holes and end faces in the same facility, so the part can ship ready to assemble.

Key Features

• Shank and serrated head forged in one piece with continuous grain flow
• Near-net-shape blank reduces bar-stock machining and cycle time
• Serrations and holes CNC-finished to the mating part's specification
• Anodized or shot-blasted finish available for the operating environment

Industrial Hardware F-9 Specifications and Manufacturing Capability

Industrial Hardware F-9 Manufacturing Process

1. Drawing review and DFM: we confirm alloy, load direction and critical dimensions, then run QForm simulation to predict metal flow and defect risk.
2. Die design and manufacturing: the number of die sets (for example, blocker and finisher dies) is planned around part complexity, and die contours are checked with a portable 3D scanner.
3. Hot forging: closed-die forming on 600T–8,000T hot forging presses creates a continuous grain flow that follows the part contour.
4. Heat treatment: T4 solution treatment and T6 artificial aging are performed in-house, with parameters set by alloy and strength requirement.
5. CNC machining and finishing: holes, threads and mating surfaces are machined, followed by deburring, vibratory finishing, shot blasting or anodizing as required.
6. Inspection and shipment: dimensions, hardness and chemical composition are verified with CMM, hardness testers and a spectrometer, with lot traceability kept under IATF 16949.

FAQ

Is the serrated head of the F-9 forged or machined?

It depends on tooth accuracy and volume. The serration profile can be forged to a near-net contour and then CNC-finished to the mating tolerance; for tight-fit applications, a machining allowance can be left and the teeth fully machined. During drawing review, AFT recommends the split between forging and machining based on tooth count, module and tolerance, balancing die life against finished accuracy.

What needs attention when forging a long lever like the F-9?

Long slender parts can bend or underfill at the head if material is not distributed correctly, so the die sequence usually includes a blocker (preform) stage before the finisher die, gathering material into the head before the serrations are formed. AFT uses QForm simulation to evaluate material distribution and adds straightening and dimensional checks after heat treatment to keep shank straightness within the drawing.

How does a forged aluminum Industrial Hardware F-9 compare with casting or machining from billet?

Forging shapes aluminum in the solid state under pressure, so the grain flow follows the part contour and the porosity and shrinkage common in castings are avoided. Compared with machining from solid billet, a near-net-shape forging removes less material and shortens machining time. For a Industrial Hardware F-9 under repeated loads, forging balances strength and weight; the final choice still depends on design loads and volume.

Is heat treatment for the Industrial Hardware F-9 done in-house?

Yes. Al Forge Tech operates 8 T4 solution treatment units and 7 T6 artificial aging units on site, so the Industrial Hardware F-9 can be solution treated, quenched and aged in the same facility before machining and inspection. Keeping heat treatment in-house removes inter-plant transport, reduces lead-time risk and keeps lot traceability within one quality system. Parameters are set according to the alloy grade and your specification.

What information do you need to quote the Industrial Hardware F-9?

Please send a 3D model and 2D drawing, alloy grade and temper, critical tolerances, surface finish requirements, estimated annual volume and target delivery date. Complete data lets our engineers judge forging feasibility, the number of die sets and the machining scope for the Industrial Hardware F-9 at the quotation stage. If the design is still conceptual, a sketch is enough to start a DFM discussion.

Request a Quote for the Industrial Hardware F-9

Developing a new Industrial Hardware F-9 or converting an existing part to aluminum forging? Send us your 3D/2D drawings, alloy and temper, annual volume and finishing requirements. Our engineering team will reply with a feasibility review, die plan and quotation.

• Online inquiry: Contact Us
• Email: aft@aft-forge.com.tw

To compare similar parts, browse Aluminum Forging Industrial Hardware and our industrial hardware forging applications, or visit About Us for our equipment and certifications.