Adaptable mandrel for spin forming, apparatus comprising such a mandrel and method for spin forming

摘要

There is provided a mandrel (10) for spin forming that has a backing plate (20) with removably attached mandrel portions (24,26) and mandrel spacers (36), such that the mandrel (10) is adaptable to numerous configurations. The various configurations of the mandrel (10) are used to provide different spin forming contour surfaces (30) upon which metal sheets or other spin formable materials can be spin formed. The adaptable mandrel (10) also provides the ability to create a desired spin formed product from either a single metal sheet or multiple metal sheets joined by friction stir welding or other suitable processes. A spin formed welded metal sheet may also undergo a trimming process to remove the portions of the welded metal sheet having sufficiently different material properties resulting from the weld process, including the weld joint.