The Benefits Of Hydroforming Sheet Aluminum
Hydroforming
,Aerospace
Hydroforming sheet aluminum is the most cost-effective way to achieve durable parts with a superior finish. Companies in a variety of industries, from aerospace to lighting to medical, and many more, need to create strong parts from sheet aluminum. Often, these parts can be difficult to form because they have complex shapes and need to be produced in small batches. In order to cut down on costs associated with cold-forming these complex parts, Jones Metal recommends hydroforming. A few examples of parts that benefit from hydroforming sheet aluminum are light reflectors, jet engine components, or aerospace gyroscope cases.
When hydroforming sheet aluminum, a rubber diaphragm replaces the female die, mitigating the risk of blemishes, scratch marks or stretch lines. This ensures a smooth, aesthetically pleasing finish, and eliminates the need for extra tooling. In the forming chamber, there is a pressurized liquid that presses the punch through a metal ring to create the aluminum part. The result is a strong, blemish-free, fully-formed part.
Hydroforming sheet metal can be tricky because the parts are often asymmetrical or irregularly shaped. Not all cold-forming processes are equipped to handle such demands. With difficult-to-form aluminum parts, hydroforming is the perfect solution. Parts can be completed in a single cycle. With matched die tooling, some parts require multiple buffing and polishing processes, which not only add to the cost, but require additional time to complete the cycle. Without the need for additional cycles, customers realize significant cost benefits. Hydroforming can actually be up to 50 percent more cost-effective than other cold-forming methods for irregularly shaped aluminum parts.
Jones Metal Forming is the expert in cold-forming. Our engineers have the expertise to work with blanks that measure up to 32.5 inches. We craft parts with depths of up to 14 inches deep and diameters up to 27 inches. We have years of expertise in a variety of industries, including automotive, medical, defense, aerospace and commercial lighting industries. We understand the unique needs of each of these manufacturers and know how to save them money and time when hydroforming sheet aluminum.
To learn more about our hydroforming sheet aluminum capabilities, contact us or call Jones Metal at 740-545-6381!
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