Drop forging is a manufacturing process of shaping metal, usually steel or iron, by hammering it with repeated blows from a heavy-duty hammer. Some synonyms for this term include drop hammer forging, hammer forging or closed-die forging. Drop hammer forging involves shaping a piece of metal between two shaped dies, and a heavy-duty hammer is dropped onto the metal, forcing it to take the shape of the dies. Hammer forging involves the use of varying degrees of pressure and temperature to manipulate the metal, and closed-die forging involves the metal being encased within two dies, which are then hammered together to form the desired shape. Regardless of the synonym used, these techniques are essential in producing durable and strong metal components used in various industries.