The hydroforming process begins by placing a metal blank on the ring.
How to hydroform sheet metal.
The resulting near net shape parts have a smooth surface finish and require no secondary operations.
The forming chamber is pressurized with oil while the punch is raised through the ring and into the the forming chamber.
Sheet hydroforming presses use pressurized hydraulic fluid contained in a diaphragm to shape sheet metal against a single tool.
This causes the metal to draw until it takes the shape of the mandrel.
The press is closed bringing the chamber of oil down on top of the blank.
The kicker with this build is that there is no fluid at least not until the 40 000 pound hydraulic press semi liquifies the thick neoprene rubber pad placed over the sheet metal blank and die.
One key advantage of this process is that only a single rigid die is needed making it possible to form more complex shapes wrinkle free and with material thinning of less than 10.
Concave shapes can be created with this process but may require secondary finishing.
The metal is formed quickly and can be removed once it has taken shape.
As part of this process a flat metal disc is placed on to a mechanically driven mandrel.