Method for automated pass schedule calculation in forging stepped shafts

A method for forging a stepped shaft made of steel, in a forging machine with at least four forging tools arranged around a circumference of a workpiece, which are set up and adapted to simultaneously carry out a forging process over at least a partial length of the workpiece, the method comprising:

• entering start parameters for the forging process into a pass schedule calculation program;
• specifying target parameters for the forging process;
• calculating a pass schedule or a forging sequence based on the start parameters and the target parameters by the pass schedule calculation program;
• and
• forging the stepped shaft in the forging machine by controlling the at least four forging tools in accordance with the pass schedule or forging sequence,
• wherein the pass schedule calculation program takes into account
• a tool geometry of the at least four forging tools,
• a maximum press force,
• a temperature distribution over a cross section of the stepped shaft calculated by the pass schedule calculation program, and
• a change in shape during forging.