Flowforming of thin-walled tubes and cylinders

摘要

It is the intent of the writer to present this paper as a means to provide engineers, designers, managers and industry personnel with a basic understanding of the flowforming process and how it relates to the manufacturing of thin-walled tubes and cylinders. It is not meant to address the many possible applications for the process nor to discuss in-depth the complex techniques involved in how it is performed. By definition, flowforming is a seamless, cold metalforming process by which hollow, rotationally symmetrical, dimensionally precise components can be manufactured. Thin-walled tubing, as well as cylinders with one closed or semi-closed end, can be cost-effectively flowformed and are well suited to its application. The process should be of particular interest in the manufacturing of tubes and cylinders requiring high dimensional accuracy, superior surface finishes and/or having a varying configuration on the outside diameter. Features difficult to achieve by other forming methods, ie increasing and/or decreasing wall thickness, tapers, radii and steps, are easily produced by this process.