Bicycle Parts E-12
Description
Bicycle Forging E-12: Round-Head Arm-Type Aluminum Forging
Bicycle forging E-12 is an arm-type aluminum forging developed by Al Forge Tech (AFT) to the customer’s drawing. It has a round boss at one end and a tapering round arm, with a flat boss face that can be machined with a bore, spline or thread as a pivot or connection point. Arm-type forgings like this are common in bicycle cranks, operating arms, links and other load-transmitting arms.
The junction between boss and arm carries bending moment under load, and forging carries grain flow continuously from arm into boss, preserving material continuity better than machining from bar. After hot forging, AFT can heat treat, CNC-machine the boss holes and arm features, and anodize or shot-blast the part, delivering forged blanks or finished parts.
Key Features
- Round boss and tapering arm hot forged in one piece
- Boss machinable with bore, spline or thread as a pivot
- Continuous grain flow at the junction carries bending moment
- Delivered as forged blank, semi-finished or finished part
Bicycle Forging E-12 Specifications and Manufacturing Capability
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product category | Aluminum Forging Bicycle Parts |
| Product No. | E-12 |
| Application | Bicycle cranks, operating arms, links and other arm-type parts (to customer design) |
| Primary process | Closed-die hot forging (hot forging presses 600T–8,000T) |
| Material | Selected to customer specification; 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx series aluminum alloys available (e.g. 2014, 6061, 6082, 7075) |
| Heat treatment | In-house T4 solution treatment (8 units) and T6 artificial aging (7 units), set by alloy and strength requirement |
| Secondary machining | CNC machining (52 machining centers, 30 lathes), deburring, vibratory finishing |
| Surface finish | Anodizing (including hard anodizing), shot blasting, e-coating or painting, as required |
| Inspection | Zeiss CMM (4 units), hardness testers, spectrometer, fluorescent penetrant inspection line |
| Dimensions and tolerances | Per customer 2D/3D drawings |
| Quality system | IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015 |
Bicycle Forging E-12 Manufacturing Process
- Drawing review and DFM: we confirm alloy, load direction and critical dimensions, then run QForm simulation to predict metal flow and defect risk.
- 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.
- Hot forging: closed-die forming on 600T–8,000T hot forging presses creates a continuous grain flow that follows the part contour.
- Heat treatment: T4 solution treatment and T6 artificial aging are performed in-house, with parameters set by alloy and strength requirement.
- CNC machining and finishing: holes, threads and mating surfaces are machined, followed by deburring, vibratory finishing, shot blasting or anodizing as required.
- 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
Can arm-type forgings like E-12 be developed to my own design?
Yes. AFT works mainly as an OEM supplier, and E-12 is an arm-type forging developed to a customer’s drawing. Send a 3D model or 2D drawing and our engineers will evaluate arm length, boss size, section changes and alloy, plan dies and heat treatment, and suggest forging features such as draft angles and radii at the DFM stage.
Are there limits on arm length and boss proportion?
The longer the arm and the larger the boss, the more material must be gathered and the higher the forming force, which may require a preform stage to concentrate material into the boss first. AFT’s hot forging presses range from 600T to 8,000T, so the press is selected by part size, and QForm simulation confirms that the boss fills completely.
How does a forged aluminum Bicycle Forging E-12 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 Bicycle Forging E-12 under repeated loads, forging balances strength and weight; the final choice still depends on design loads and volume.
What information do you need to quote the Bicycle Forging E-12?
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 Bicycle Forging E-12 at the quotation stage. If the design is still conceptual, a sketch is enough to start a DFM discussion.
How are MOQ and lead time for the Bicycle Forging E-12 determined?
MOQ and lead time depend on part size, number of die sets, alloy and machining scope, and are confirmed in the quotation after drawing review. The typical sequence is die development, forged samples, sample approval and then mass production. Sharing your annual volume and call-off schedule helps us plan dies and capacity for the Bicycle Forging E-12.
Request a Quote for the Bicycle Forging E-12
Developing a new Bicycle Forging E-12 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: [email protected]
To compare similar parts, browse Aluminum Forging Bicycle Parts and our automotive aluminum forging applications, or visit About Us for our equipment and certifications.
