shaping techniques
Rolling
The unprocessed metal is passed through a series of rollers that compress it. Its ussualy done when the metal is hot
Extrusion
The heated metal is passed through a hole by a piston using compression
Forging
Uses : Sheets, plates, bars...
Uses: Bars, tubes and other shapes
The metal piece is shaped by repeated and continous compression forces using hammer, tongs and anvils
Manual forging has been replaced by industrial or mechanical forging. The piece is placed on a platformthat acts as an anvil.
Uses ; Railings, bed headboards, horse shoes , keys, tools, nails, screws, rivets, engine pieces...
hammer:
anvil:
tongs:
Press forging
The heated metal is placed between two dies, one fixedand the other mobile. The dies are the shape of the object we want to make. They are pressed together so that the piece takes the shape of the die.
Uses: Car body parts, radiators....
Punching
This is a cold forging process: a sheet of metal is hit with a punch to make the requierd shape in a mould
uses: pieces, such as bearings, form flat pieces
BENDING
A metal sheet is subjected to force to makr a curved shape with a specific curve radius
uses: curved pieces or with angles
Wire drawing: A wire is pulled through a hole that has requiered imensions. A roating drum is used ti pull it through the hole to increase its length while reduding its diameter
Casting
Molten metal
Is poured into a container with a hollow space inside which is the shape of the object we want to make. The mould can de made from sand, steel or cast iron.
1 the metal is heated in a furnace
2 the liquid metal is poured into the mould
3 It is left to cool down
4 The piece is removed from the mould
Uses : Engine blocks, fire hydrant, small parts aand alloys with low melting points , ornaments, lewellery,sculptures and dental implants