The Facts Behind Metal Spinning and Hydroforming

The Facts Behind Metal Spinning and Hydroforming

Metal spinning and hydroforming are often thought of as specialized and narrowly focused metal forming processes. As a result, many engineers don’t understand the benefits these techniques offer.

What is Metal Spinning?
Metal spinning, or spin forming, is used for forming disks of metal using conceptually similar techniques to clay pottery sculpting. Typically used for short production runs, metal spinning can be done manually or with automation using CNC lathes.

Typically, metal spinning is used for producing parts like stainless steel bowls, satellite dishes, gas cylinders and brass instruments.

Metal spinning can be used to form any kind of ductile metal, such as:

Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Carbon Steel
Copper
Brass
Hastelloy
Inconel
Titanium
Depending on the type of material being used, metal spinning can be considered both a cold and hot forming process.

When cold forming is not possible, technicians can hot form a part by heating it with a torch. The heated part can then be shaped or necked down to smaller diameters with less force and minimal work hardening.

Read more: The Facts Behind Metal Spinning and Hydroforming