In the world of food processing, manufacturing the highest quality equipment is of paramount importance. Not only does food need to be kept safe, but the equipment itself must be able to function smoothly even in the most difficult industrial conditions.
Food processing equipment needs to endure high temperatures and resist corrosion in damp environments. While there are a number of different materials and processes that are commonly used to manufacture this equipment, metal spinning using stainless steel allows for highly durable equipment that meets customers’ exact specifications.
The metal spinning process consists of a tube or a disc of metal that is rotated at high-speed and machined into an axially symmetrical product using either a vertical or horizontal lathe. The advantage of spinning over other forming processes is its capacity to create seamless products from a single piece of material, with relatively low-cost tooling. Without seams, parts can withstand much higher internal and external pressures.
You will typically find spun metal components in decorative and architectural parts. Spun metal parts are also featured in variety of machines, cookware, gas cylinders, and brass instruments, and can be made from a variety of materials. Let’s discuss the three most common materials for spinning.
Too often in the metal fabrication industry, the phrase “we’re not set up for that” really means “we don’t want to do that.” When customers are met with either the unwillingness to manufacture their parts to print or the inexperience to know how to do so properly, the end project suffers greatly. Granted, it’s important for designs to be practical and feasible, but when a manufacturer says, “metal spinning with special alloys is just too difficult” it’s simply not true…for Helander anyway.
Special alloys are in no way a hindrance to getting the custom parts you want, in the specifications you want them, and in the tightest of tolerances. In fact, one of the major advantages of creating parts via metal spinning is the ability to create quality, uniform, products out of traditional metal, alloys, and exotics alike. As long as a part is ductile it can be metal spun and even high-strength alloys are workable and machinable.
Light reflectors are used by architectural and commercial lighting professionals to augment artificial light. Since people obtain the majority of their information through their sense of sight, light reflectors are always in high demand; these products can provide appropriate lighting, which helps people process visual information faster and with greater clarity.
Metal spinning is a well-known fabrication process that produces axially symmetric parts. This process is simple and yields high-quality results, and as such, it has become a primary production method for several manufacturers.
Modern industrial applications are far more demanding, and as such, companies must rely on different metal forming processes. There are several processes to choose from—including forging, extrusion, deep drawing, and others—but few can match the efficiency of metal spinning.
When deciding on metal fabricating processes for component manufacturing, there are many factors to consider—turnaround time is one such factor that is of particular importance. Delayed project deadlines often result in costly consequences for many companies.
Depending on the specific form and structure of a component, there can be more than one metal fabricating process that can be used to meet the same end. Although different processes can achieve similar results, there may be greater benefits of one over another.
In the metalworking industry, research and development (R&D) is vital for a successful manufacturing project.
After the initial product design, prototyping is the ideal next step in process; though producing a one-off part or component may seem like a simple task, this step is not without its issues. Prototyping can often consume time, leading to production delays, and tooling can cut into your company’s budget.
At Helander, we have provided clients with custom forming and fabrication services for the last 80 years. Our extensive experience has enabled us to specialize in several areas, but one of our core competencies is metal spinning.
Metal spinning is an ideal process for manufacturing high-quality round parts of different sizes and shapes—such as hemispheres and spheres. Our spherical metal parts are created simply and easily by joining two spun hemispheres; the resulting hollow spheres are imbued with the resiliency needed for the most demanding commercial and industrial applications.
