TPT March 2011

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60 March 2011 ›
Technology Update
FORMITT Metal Labs, a division of Hess
Industries Inc, offers process development,
prototyping and production runs of custom
spin formed hollow tube shapes and
assemblies. The company uses spin
forming, flow forming, and assembly
technologies to create hollow symmetrical
and asymmetrical shapes, fabrications and
assemblies in both ferrous and non-ferrous
metals, including stainless and high-alloy
steels.
Spin forming eliminates the need
for welded tube end forms, enhancing
overall component quality and reliability.
Hollow tube fabricated assemblies may
include the insertion of filtration elements,
heat exchange components or catalytic
elements for exhaust after-treatment
applications. Spin forming eliminates the
need for welded end forms and provides
a seamless profile that will polish with no
welds to grind down.
In one application, the customer was
manufacturing a line of couplings using
stamped half-forms welded together. Ten
different size configurations were being
manufactured in aluminium, stainless and
carbon steel. Due to wear, the customer
needed to rebuild all ten dies at a cost in
the tens of thousands of dollars.
Formitt Metal Labs was able to replace
all forming and welding operations for
the ten part configurations with one set
of tube spin forming tooling. As a result,
the quality and appearance of the parts
were improved while the cost of future new
dies, die repairs and welding processes
were eliminated. Formitt also provides spin
formed production parts to the customer.
Another application featured
aftermarket motorcycle muffler shells,
where the product involved stamped
and welded end-cones with the weld
being ground down then polished.
Formitt’s technicians developed a new
manufacturing process that eliminated
the dies, stamped parts and welded
end-cones. The spin forming process
eliminated the welded joints and grinding
operation while enhancing the part quality
and providing a smooth finish ready for
polishing.
Formitt Metal Labs – USA
Fax: +1 269 683 1775
Website:
No end form welding with hollow tube
spin forming technology
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