Main Difference
The main difference between Foundry and Forge is that the Foundry is a factory that produces metal castings and Forge is a workplace of a blacksmith.
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Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal into a mold, and removing the mold material after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminium and cast iron. However, other metals, such as bronze, brass, steel, magnesium, and zinc, are also used to produce castings in foundries. In this process, parts of desired shapes and sizes can be formed.
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Forge
A forge is a type of hearth used for heating metals, or the workplace (smithy) where such a hearth is located. The forge is used by the smith to heat a piece of metal to a temperature where it becomes easier to shape by forging, or to the point where work hardening no longer occurs. The metal (known as the “workpiece”) is transported to and from the forge using tongs, which are also used to hold the workpiece on the smithy’s anvil while the smith works it with a hammer. Sometimes, such as when hardening steel or cooling the work so that it may be handled with bare hands, the workpiece is transported to the slack tub, which rapidly cools the workpiece in a large body of water. However, depending on the metal type, it may require an oil quench or a salt brine instead; many metals require more than plain water hardening. The slack tub also provides water to control the fire in the forge.
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Foundry (noun)
A melts metals in special furnaces and pours the molten metal into molds to make products. Foundries are usually specified according to the type of metal dealt with: iron foundry, brass foundry, etc.
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Foundry (noun)
The casting metals; founding.
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Foundry (noun)
A semiconductor fabrication plant in the microelectronics industry.
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Forge (noun)
Furnace or hearth where metals are heated prior to hammering them into shape.
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Forge (noun)
Workshop in which metals are shaped by heating and hammering them.
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Forge (noun)
The act of beating or working iron or steel.
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Forge (verb)
To shape a metal by heating and hammering.
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Forge (verb)
To form or create with concerted effort.
“The politician’s recent actions are an effort to forge a relationship with undecided voters.”
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Forge (verb)
To create a forgery of; to make a counterfeit item of; to copy or imitate unlawfully.
“He had to forge his ex-wife’s signature.”
“The jury learned the documents had been forged.”
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Forge (verb)
To make falsely; to produce, as that which is untrue or not genuine; to fabricate.
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Forge (verb)
(often as forge ahead) To move forward heavily and slowly (originally as a ship); to advance gradually but steadily; to proceed towards a goal in the face of resistance or difficulty.
“The party of explorers forged through the thick underbrush.”
“We decided to forge ahead with our plans even though our biggest underwriter backed out.”
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Forge (verb)
(sometimes as forge ahead) To advance, move or act with an abrupt increase in speed or energy.
“With seconds left in the race, the runner forged into first place.”