How To Hydroform Sheet Metal

The press is closed bringing the chamber of oil down on top of the blank.

How to hydroform sheet metal.

Sheet hydroforming presses use pressurized hydraulic fluid contained in a diaphragm to shape sheet metal against a single tool. 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. The hydraulic oil or fluid is pumped into the chamber behind a rubber diaphragm that is the counter pressure to the rising mandrel. Hydroforming is a process in which the sheet metal is forced to take the shape of only a single rigid die by the action of fluid pressure which acts through a rubber diaphragm.

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. The metal is formed quickly and can be removed once it has taken shape. Concave shapes can be created with this process but may require secondary finishing. Fluid or oil is pumped into a chamber behind the rubber diaphragm causing the metal to draw until it reaches the shape of the mandrel.

The resulting near net shape parts have a smooth surface finish and require no secondary operations. As part of this process a flat metal disc is placed on to a mechanically driven mandrel.