The process of making mechanical parts can be classified into two methods, namely forging and casting.
 
Forging technology
The metal forming machinery is the main tool to perform the metal forging. First, the metal is heated to a specific temperature in the furnace. Then it is put on an anvil. Next, the worker operates the metal forming machinery to hit it continually and make it into the specific shape and size, which makes the metal possess a specific mechanic performance.
 
Casting technology
Casting technology is different from forging technology. It includes three kinds of casting methods. They are gravity casting, pressure casting and aluminum sand casting. To use this method, the worker melts the metal at high temperature first. Then the worker puts the melted metal liquid into the casting pattern. After the liquid solidifies, the sand casting parts which has specific shape, size and performance is formed.
 
Now you can see that these two kinds of processing methods are different with each other greatly, so the forging parts and casting parts are different with each other on many respects. Someone has made an interesting comparison for these two methods. By this comparison, the forging technology is compared to the female because the forging parts are fine and delicate, and the casting technology is compared to the male because the casting parts are coarse.
 
The following text will introduce their respective advantages and disadvantages.
 
1 Forging technology forms the parts by pressing mould. It has higher efficiency. Furthermore, it can make the metal particle smaller, so the forging parts have higher strength than the casting parts. However, the mould is very expensive, so forging technology is suitable to make a large amount of parts. Its disadvantage is that the metal needs to be heated for too long, and it needs higher labor intensity. Furthermore, its working environment is always very bad.
 
2 The mechanical property of casting parts is worse than that of the forging parts of the same material. Meanwhile, forging technology can make the metal fiber organize continually, so the forging parts is smooth and intact, and it possesses better mechanical property and longer service life.
 
3 The casting technology costs much less than the forging technology, so it can be used to make the single or a small amount of parts.
 
4 Casting technology can make the complicated parts that can't be made with forging technology.
Now you know much about these two methods. When you make parts, you should choose the appropriate method according to the situation.