Step 3 of 10
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Forge die building: why this course exists
The eight decisions that set forge die life before the first hit, and why the build is a chain where the weakest link sets the floor.
Step 3 of 10Decision 3 — Pre-hard versus through-hard workflow
Pre-hard stock at 40 to 44 HRC lets you machine to net dimension with no heat-treat distortion budget downstream. Through-hard workflow goes rough machine, heat treat, finish machine, EDM, and accepts a distortion budget across that sequence. The choice sets the hardness ceiling (pre-hard caps around 44 HRC, through-hard reaches 48-54) and the tolerance stack (pre-hard is clean, through-hard accumulates). Lesson 4 is the decision matrix by application.
Quick check
A short-run aluminum forging die targets 5,000 to 15,000 cycles. The shop's CNC capacity is tight and lead time matters more than peak hardness. Pre-hard or through-hard?