A method (500) for manufacturing a machine component includes forming a non-linear break notch (214) in a workpiece, freezing the workpiece, and snapping the frozen workpiece apart along the non-linear break notch (214).

The invention discloses a process of forging a track link (1) for a track-type vehicle undercarriage. The forging process produces links (1) that conform to very restrictive tolerances without the mecessity of additional machining or finishing. The process includes a classification of "n" link surfaces (A,B; C,D,E; F,F'; G,H,I,L,M,N; O,P,P',O; R,S) to be forged and involving the whole workpiece in Nn tolerance fields (AB, CDE, FF', GHILMN, OPP'Q, RS). Within each of these N tolerance fields, upon shaping, trimming and double coining, each of "n" surfaces is maintained with an exceeding or deficient quantity of material such as to provide, within tolerance limits, material transfers, particularly small, between one surface and the adjacent one, wherein the active subject of transfer is a surface having a reduced tolerance field to and from a surface standing a larger tolerance.

The invention includes also an apparatus for forging a track link (1) to a desired finished dimension. The apparatus includes a coining die (80, 81) providing coining on at least two planes at right angles whereby coining of surfaces at right angles with die closing and opening direction is provided by transversally-moveable members (86a, 86b) automatically driven by inclined planes (86"a, 86"b) which combine horizontal and vertical movements.

The invention discloses a process of forging a track link (1) for a track-type vehicle undercarriage. The forging process produces links (1) that conform to very restrictive tolerances without the mecessity of additional machining or finishing. The process includes a classification of "n" link surfaces (A,B; C,D,E; F,F'; G,H,I,L,M,N; O,P,P',O; R,S) to be forged and involving the whole workpiece in Nn tolerance fields (AB, CDE, FF', GHILMN, OPP'Q, RS). Within each of these N tolerance fields, upon shaping, trimming and double coining, each of "n" surfaces is maintained with an exceeding or deficient quantity of material such as to provide, within tolerance limits, material transfers, particularly small, between one surface and the adjacent one, wherein the active subject of transfer is a surface having a reduced tolerance field to and from a surface standing a larger tolerance.

The invention includes also an apparatus for forging a track link (1) to a desired finished dimension. The apparatus includes a coining die (80, 81) providing coining on at least two planes at right angles whereby coining of surfaces at right angles with die closing and opening direction is provided by transversally-moveable members (86a, 86b) automatically driven by inclined planes (86"a, 86"b) which combine horizontal and vertical movements.

A process comprising heating in an induction continuous oven a billet length whose weight corresponds to that of a finished segment including usual flash, to shape with a rough shape die said heated billet length, forging said partially shaped metal providing a shape close to final shape and size, trimming with an upside-down extension said shaped part, coining at square angles segment surface at sizes corresponding to those obtainable with cold tool machine working, drilling the segment flange with bolt holes, heating such segment to a temperature suitable for heat treating and finally cooling to complete such heat treatment.

Die extruding and coining means are provided wherein the sproket segment (5) is extruded in upside-down condition and coined in a die (8) in flat condition wherein one (A') of its cavity walls is provided with a side loose piece (82) slidable on guides (181, 182) by engagement with at least one (280) of die halves (80, 81).