When it comes to metal stamping, the process is not a new process. It’s history can be dated all the way back to the 1800s, and this was during the type when bicycle parts were being mass-produced. However, the metal stamping systems and other resources that were being used were not as advanced as they are today. The metal stamping systems during that time were still able to produce a variety of effective and efficient parts and components.
If you drive through a subdivision, you will see a satellite antenna on almost every house. Businesses might have the same antennas, or sometimes even larger ones. These are made possible through sheet hydroforming.
Look around your office or house or walk through a furniture store. Spend some time in the contemporary section and you will see how hydroforming is used to create furniture.
American Hydroformers, Inc. recently gained ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification. By completing the necessary requirements needed to become certified, American Hydroformers reinforces its commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
Tube hydroforming is accomplished in one of two ways, either high pressure or low pressure. The desired shape and strength of the metal tube determine the level of pressure that will be used.
First developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, tube hydroforming is the process by which pressurized fluid, either hydraulic fluid or water, is used to expand and shape metal tubes into the contours of a die. Since there are no welded seams, tubular hydroforming can be used to fabricate structural parts that are lighter, more rigid, and stronger than stamped sheet metal.
When you think about metal forming, what do you generally think about it? It will not be a surprise if one of your first thoughts is deep drawing. Deep drawing is one of the most used and popular methods when it comes to metal forming; deep drawing is one of the best ways to form a metal sheet into any type of shape you can think of.
Are you using hydroformed products? Many of the items used by people every day are created through a process called deep draw hydroforming. Next time you are at these places or with individuals who use these items, look closely at them and see if you can see why hydroforming was the best way to create them.
Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new welding process that was invented at The Welding Institute in Cambridge, UK in 1991. FSW is a solid-state joining process that uses frictional heat combined with accurately directed forging pressure to produce high integrity welded joints for extruded or wrought aluminum. The process can also be used to join copper, titanium, and certain alloys. This automated frictional welding process is more robust than other joining processes and is a good fit for industries that must employ high-volume production, such as the automotive industry.
While it may still be seen as one of the newer methods in the industry, especially when compared to the conventional or traditional stamping processes, tube hydroforming continues to have a large impact in the automotive industry and a host of other industries. Why is tube hydroforming having such a great impact in these industries? Why is tube hydroforming a popular choice over the older techniques?
