Abstract: An extruded metal chain pin (34) for connecting center and side links of a chain together. The chain pin (34) comprises an extruded solid cylindrical body (130), having two flattened transverse ends (132) and an extruded grain structure (134) extending parallel through the length of the cylindrical body (130). The pin is characterized by all of the extruded grain structures (134) extending parallel to the cylindrical body (130) and into the flattened transverse ends (132) before reaching flare-out points.

Abstract: A punch press assembly (20) simultaneously upsets two ends (22) of a cylindrical blank (24) to produce a chain pin (34) having an extruded grain structure (134) which extends parallel to its longitudinal axis (B) into the upset regions of the chain pin (34). The punch press (20) clamps an upper die (30) to a lower die (26) via a mechanical crank (45), attached to the upper die (30) with lost motion (80,82). While maintaining the clamping relationship between the upper (30) and lower (26) dies, the downwardly directed force created by the mechanical crank (45) is transferred to the horizontal punches (36) by the two pairs of wedges (58,60). The two lower wedges (60) slide horizontally along two tie rods (84) and force the two punches (36) into the recess (28) to upset the ends of the cylindrical blank (24) to form a chain pin (34).