Schmiedestücke

Schmiedestücke are metal pieces produced by forging, a shaping process that deforms metal under high temperature and pressure. The term, derived from schmieden, designates workpieces formed by hammering or pressing rather than casting or machining. Forged pieces may be stock produced directly by hot or warm forging or partially finished components that undergo further machining.

Forging methods include hot forging (deformation above recrystallization temperature), warm forging, and cold forging (at or near room temperature). Techniques such as hand hammering, drop forging, and die forging create a wide range of shapes including bars, shafts, wedges, tool blanks, and complex structural components. Common materials are steel and other ferrous alloys, but aluminum and copper alloys are also forged.

Compared with cast or machined parts, Schmiedestücke typically exhibit refined grain flow and directional strength, improved fatigue resistance, and reduced porosity. These properties, along with the ability to produce complex geometries, make forged pieces suitable for critical load-bearing applications such as machinery components, fasteners, tools, and automotive parts.

In museums or catalogues, Schmiedestücke may refer to examples of forged pieces illustrating historical smithing techniques, or to stock pieces used in workshops. The exact meaning varies with context, but the core concept remains a piece formed by forging rather than casting or machining.