Tag Archive: metal fabricating

  1. Hand Spinning vs. CNC Spinning: Two Sides of the Coin

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    describe the imageMetal Spinning (or spin forming) is a process where a tube or a disc of metal is rotated at high speed and transformed into an axially symmetrical object. Metal spinning is usually performed on a vertical or horizontal lathe using CNC controls or hand processing. So, by its very nature, metal spinning is an example of a technology that has spanned a timeframe stretching from the days of hand-tooled craftwork to the modern computer era. How do the two techniques compare, and how do they complement one another? Good questions. Let’s take a look.

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  2. Safety Under Pressure: Pressure Vessel Shape Matters

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    pressure vesselThe American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) first published the Boiler & Pressure Code (BPVC) in 1915 in response to the need for safety measures in the production and use of boilers and pressure vessels. In the early 1900s, boilers and pressure vessels – closed containers designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure substantially different from the ambient pressure – were new innovations. These innovations promoted and advanced industrial activity in the U.S., specifically for companies that utilized machines for long-range transportation and heavy lifting.

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  3. The Case for Metal Spinning and Metal Hydroforming

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    Metal Spinning is a process by which a disc or tube of ductile metal is rotated on a spindle and formed into an axially symmetric part. Through the use of heavy forces and high speeds, the metal will deform and “flow” to form the desired shape around a mandrel, a kind of mold that is shaped to the interior geometry of the planned part. This process allows metal to deform evenly, without any wrinkling or warping, to create a smooth, even, and seamless surface. The processes’ heavy forces also realign and strengthen the grain structure, significantly increasing the tensile properties and fatigue resistance of the base material.

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  4. Metal Spinning at Fabtech: Developments Circulating at the Show

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    Metal forming and fabricating are our business here at Helander, so we’re lucky to be so close to the annual Fabtech conference held just up the road in Chicago, this year at McCormick Place. This year’s show, held from November 12th through November 14th, proved just as educational, interesting, and, most of all, fun as in years past. Walking around, taking in all the different booths and displays, it’s quickly apparent that a good 50% or more of the exhibits focus on metalforming – certainly of interest to us, but not quite up our alley, not quite the art of metal spinning.

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