Forming aluminium
Forming aluminium
(OP)
As more companies move over to aluminium body panels, I am sure others will have encountered the tooling problems that this creates.
The other day we came across a company that does superforming. Despite it still being to expensive for the mass producers some of the things they can do is mind-blowing, check out some of the links.
http:/ /www.super form-alumi nium.com/t echnical/t echnical-s ummar.html
The other day we came across a company that does superforming. Despite it still being to expensive for the mass producers some of the things they can do is mind-blowing, check out some of the links.
http:/





RE: Forming aluminium
RE: Forming aluminium
You might wnat to google:
superplasticity or superplastic forming
RE: Forming aluminium
The main differences are material, forming media and temperature. The material needs heat (500F) to become 'super'-plastic, pressure and temperature differentials don't allow for the use of fluid as a media. However, the stretch rates achieved are phenomenal.
We stamp some aluminium here but our hydroforming is all steel, so I can't comment on any particulars with h-formed AL.
I suspect this is a very slow process and suitable for short-run production only (by automotive standards). Control of the draw using gas pressure (and probably hydraulic pressure for the binders or draw beads) must be a nightmare, given an expanding volume and trying to chase it with heated, pressurized gas. I wouldn't be surprised if there's actually a vacuum assist in the receiving tool for the final hhmmph!! to bring it home.
*Without data, you're just another person with an opinion.*
Hydroformer