Analysis of a Thixo-lateral Forged Spindle from LTT C45, LTT C38 and LTT 100Cr6 Steel Grades Jokin Lozares 1,a , Zigor Azpilgain 1,b , Iñaki Hurtado 1,c and Iñigo Loizaga 2,a 1 Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Loramendi,4, 20500 Arrasate-Mondragon, Spain 2 AIC - Parque Empresarial Boroa, Parcela 2A-4, 48340 Amorebieta, Spain 1a jlozares@mondragon.edu, 1b zazpilgain@mondragon.edu, 1c ihurtado@mondragon.edu, 2a iloizaga@cieautomotive.com Keywords: Semisolid forging, steel thixoforming, smooth steel forging. Abstract. Due to the current trend in prices of raw material and their sources, near net shaping of mechanical components will become a key factor for the companies to get the desired competitiveness. Semisolid metal (SSM) forming is one of those near net shape forming techniques revealing a high potential to reduce material as well as energy consumption compared to conventional process technologies. Thus, the aim of this research work is to demonstrate the above by manufacturing a steel commercial automotive spindle by thixo-lateral forming from three different steel grades. The starting material, the microstructure and mechanical properties are analysed along the article. Material savings of 20% have been reported together with a substantial decrease of the forming forces. In addition, great mechanical properties have been achieved which brings the process closer to the desired final industrial application. Introduction Europe´s leading role in the market is weakening dragged by the increasing maturity of the process and the alloy surcharge for steel. The latter could be so high that it actually has a huge impact on the price of the final component. Therefore, raw material consumption must be monitored and lowered to a minimum without influencing final part´s mechanical properties. In order to remain competitive, European manufacturing companies have to face a cost-effective production line keeping the quality and reliability of the components high. In this industrial framework, near net shaping of mechanical components will become a key factor to get the desired competitiveness. Semisolid metal forming processes present several advantages, such as energy efficiency, production rates, smooth die filling and low shrinkage porosity, which together lead to near net shape capability and thus to fewer manufacturing steps than in classical methods. Semisolid forming of aluminium and magnesium alloys is state of the art and a growing number of serial production lines are already operating all over the world. However, so far, there are no industrial applications of higher melting point alloys. Many research works have been made in different places [1-6] but due to technological problems, mostly owing to the high process temperature, the semisolid forming of high melting point alloys such as steel have not been further developed. Thus, the aim of this article is to demonstrate that semisolid forming of steels has a high potential to reduce material as well as energy consumption compared to conventional process technologies. The foregoing advantages have been tried and tested in the thixo-lateral forging cell developed and implemented at the forming laboratory of Mondragon Unibertsitatea [7]. The starting material The three steel grades used in this article are supplied by Ascometal, a special steel manufacturer who designs commercial thixoforming steels, modified to have a wider solidification range and lower solidus temperature. The selected steels are, in principle, the best suited to fulfill final Solid State Phenomena Vols. 217-218 (2015) pp 347-354 Online available since 2014/Sep/19 at www.scientific.net © (2015) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.217-218.347 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 193.146.78.80, Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa,J.M.A., S.Coop, Mondragon, Spain-10/10/14,08:58:45)