Prior to forging, it is often necessary to preform billet stock to achieve adequate material distribution. This chapter discusses the equipment used for such operations, including transverse rolling machines, electric upsetters, ring-rolling mills, horizontal presses, and rotary (orbital) and radial forging machines. It describes their basic operating principles as well as advantages and disadvantages.

Separation of billets by shearing avoids material loss and is considerably faster than sawing or cutting. This chapter discusses the billet shearing process, the characteristics of sheared surfaces, and the effect of various operating parameters on surface quality. It also includes formulas for calculating shearing force, work, and power and describes various ways to increase production rates.