TPT March 2011

T echnology U pdate

No end form welding with hollow tube spin forming technology

Formitt’s technicians developed a new manufacturing process that eliminated the dies, stamped parts and welded end-cones. The spin forming process eliminated the welded joints and grinding operation while enhancing the part quality and providing a smooth finish ready for polishing. Formitt Metal Labs – USA Fax: +1 269 683 1775 Website: www.formitt.com

In one application, the customer was manufacturing a line of couplings using stamped half-forms welded together. Ten different size configurations were being manufactured in aluminium, stainless and carbon steel. Due to wear, the customer needed to rebuild all ten dies at a cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. Formitt Metal Labs was able to replace all forming and welding operations for the ten part configurations with one set of tube spin forming tooling. As a result, the quality and appearance of the parts were improved while the cost of future new dies, die repairs and welding processes were eliminated. Formitt also provides spin formed production parts to the customer. Another application featured aftermarket motorcycle muffler shells, where the product involved stamped and welded end-cones with the weld being ground down then polished.

FORMITT Metal Labs, a division of Hess Industries Inc, offers process development, prototyping and production runs of custom spin formed hollow tube shapes and assemblies. The company uses spin forming, flow forming, and assembly technologies to create hollow symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes, fabrications and assemblies in both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including stainless and high-alloy steels. Spin forming eliminates the need for welded tube end forms, enhancing overall component quality and reliability. Hollow tube fabricated assemblies may include the insertion of filtration elements, heat exchange components or catalytic elements for exhaust after-treatment applications. Spin forming eliminates the need for welded end forms and provides a seamless profile that will polish with no welds to grind down.

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