Laser trimming of forgings

A process for producing a forging having a preselected final profile, comprising the steps of:

• furnishing a forging blank;
• heating the forging blank to an elevated temperature;
• forging the forging blank at the elevated temperature between closed dies, to produce a forging of about the preselected profile of the final forging, but having flashing thereon;
• cooling the forging having flashing thereon to a uniform temperature less than the forging temperature;
• furnishing a laser trimming apparatus having
• means for accurately positioning the forging,
• tooling to support the forging having flashing in the laser trimming apparatus,
• a trimming laser having a beam with sufficient power to cut through the thickness of the flashing at all points on the periphery where flashing is found,
• a laser beam focus and directional control system for a laser beam,
• a controller containing a programmed trimming sequence for the forging, and
• a post treating laser having a beam with sufficient energy to remove heat affected zone in the trimmed forging caused by the trimming laser, the post treating laser being mounted so that its beam is directed to a location adjacent that of the trimming laser;
• mounting the forging having flashing on the periphery thereof in the tooling of the laser trimming apparatus;
• trimming the flashing from the forging by passing the trimming laser beam through the flashing along the preselected final profile of the forging;
• and
• post treating the forging by passing the post treating laser beam along the portion of the forging immediately adjacent the preselected final profile of the forging, after the trimming laser has passed along the preselected profile to trim the flashing, to remove heat affected zone caused by the trimming laser so that the metallurgical microstructure of the trimmed forging is substantially uniform.