Sheet Metal Forming

[bobsmith]

Hi,

I'm not quite sure what I'm doing , so I hope that I'm in the right place for some information! I'm looking for some sheet metal forming. I'm from Cheshire and have seen http://www.gordonproducts.co.uk/ do wire forming and such like. Has anybody used them before or know of any body you can recommend?

Regards,

Robert.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Bob, just what are you trying to accomplish?

There are so many ways to "bend tin" (generic term) from arm-strong (hand) tools to mechanical assist tools to processes and procedures on how to do it.

Wire forming and sheet metal forming are similar but can be different. CAD datasets in the proper machine do do miracles' but the same thing can be done by hand... only slower. There are (tube) bending programs that can aid you in dimensions for bend to bend (can change depending on the angle), material used in the radius, angles the stock needs to be rotated at for each bend and so on. Many companies make generic bending tools for rod, tube, flat stock and so on. There are videos on how to modify existing tools to make them work better, differently or repair them.

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... 8&t=137436 Currently there are three pages of video; here is a lot of information to be found on the web in here; maybe....

Lee

[helowrench]

I want to learn explosive forming.
Just because.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I'm sure it can and most likely been done. I thought the build up and use was very interesting. Watching the videos are more fun than sitting reading the dry processes and procedures.

[SCOTTRODS]

I want to learn explosive forming.
Just because.

I'll watch... from waaaay over here....

[helowrench]

I want to learn explosive forming.
Just because.

I'll watch... from waaaay over here....

What could go wrong?
Actually, what interests me is the electrical type of exp forming.

[SCOTTRODS]

What, mayhaps, would you want to Eplosively form, Robert?

We could probably do some flow forming if you want to do something Dangerous... at least liquid won't cause a BOMB if it splits out. I actually know *how* to do that stuff... Maybe we should build a rocket bicycle.
Flow form a Body/tank for it... and do 200 MPH on a bicycle... Game?

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Hey, were having fun tonight!

I couldn't find anything on exp forming or electrical exp forming so nothing to post there.

Flow forming: I had never heard the term before so I looked it up. I remember seeing it now but I don't remember if I heard a name for it or if I did, what the term was.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=flo ... 3138D3AF46 Part 1 of flow forming

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=flo ... 8C01CC187F Flow forming part 2

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=flo ... 8486DFF4BB

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=flo ... 4619CA3213 Flow forming – spinning

[SCOTTRODS]

How About some Hydroforming then?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUMs3cWBlks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llhcATr ... Tm1rvldNvT

[Ol'fogasaurus]

How About some Hydroforming then?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUMs3cWBlks

I have designed a lot of hydro pressing in AL but never steel. AL, depending on the alloy and heat treat can have a 3:1 draw or even up to a 6:1 draw before the metal at the bottom would thin out so much it would tear at the spherical corners... at least that was what it was when I was working with it. There was supposed to be a Super AL alloy being developed that was supposed to go to 9:1 but I never heard more about it as I got transferred to some place else that wasn't doing hydro pressing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llhcATr ... Tm1rvldNvT

The water forming I am not sure I have seen or heard of before but something in the back of my mind says this looks familiar; it is fun to watch. The kinking in the bends was predictable but how he got around it was impressive.

On page 2 I posted this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z74t1OxxZvs Now... if any of you guys making metal sides for their rail.. et al, wanted an embossed emblem or name on the side of their toy... give you any ideas (giggle)

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=vid ... 63B21260C6 This is a higher level of blanket pressing.

[SCOTTRODS]

Lee... You still kickin' around out there? Haven't seen any new posts from you in a while...

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Still monitoring STF but trying to keep a lower profile.

We are Snowbirding right now and are in Casa Grande AZ; with all the rain here (people are bored) and the WM golf tournament plus the Super bowl it can be difficult to get on the web. The RV park I am in has over 2000 sites alone and add to that there are several other large RV parks around here too so you have to be lucky to get on at times. I am sur after the rain stops and the bowl games are over things will settle down some. I am also fighting a bug so: wash your hands often, keep your face away from the screen and wipe your keyboard off with a disinfectant.

It was fun re-reading this string but I don't think we answered the guy's question. Is he still posting here?

I did post a video the explosive metal forming on another string. It is interesting to see what was being welded together and why it was done this way (animation of the process). As I remember it is being done in an old mine shaft on the right coast.

[SCOTTRODS]

Glad to hear you're still kickin'... Haven't seen any further posts from the OP...

I have a Special interest in all that Metal forming stuff... Been studying it online and through the work of others for a few years now. I have acquired a lot of tools that will be helpful to do that stuff too. Gotta start collecting more hammers though...

[Ol'fogasaurus]

After being a drafter for almost 34 years early in my carrier I did a lot of metal forming drawings (patterns); mostly all were using AL but there are similarities with steel sheet. There are some tricks to it for both sheet metal bending, hydro forming, blanket forming (I don't think anyone has figured out my plan for posting this one yet) and so on. I have tried to pass some of it on in some of my replies and in a couple of my different builds.

I'd sure make plans for what you want to accomplish before you destroy what you are going to remove. Also, in corners drill the corner to have a radius rather than have a sharp corner on each piece (potential stress risers which is where failures can start from).

Lee

[helowrench]

Foggy, Scott is definitely above average, I watched him doing some Kydex forming on a stretcher sled, and was impressed.
I also hope to be invoked in whatever forming he is doing, as he now has one of my fave tools, an English wheel.
Now, I need to talk Scott into a Shrinker/stretcher, and find room in his shop for a mutual friends 6' finger brake and three differently radiused sets of fingers.