How Metal Spinning Evolved from Handcraft to CNC Precision

How Metal Spinning Evolved from Handcraft to CNC Precision

As explained by Global Metal Spinning in their article, “Metal Spinning & Flow Forming Explained,” metal spinning has a long history, with origins tracing back to 10th-century China. This process, once a skilled handcraft, has evolved into an advanced manufacturing technique performed by CNC machines. Today, metal spinning is widely used for producing axisymmetric workpieces, starting from a flat disk or a machined preform, which is clamped against a rotating mandrel.

In metal spinning, a rotating tool known as a roller shapes the blank through multiple controlled movements called passes. The roller pushes the blank closer to the mandrel’s shape with each pass, gradually achieving the desired form. This technique, known as multipass spinning, is commonly used for applications requiring precision. By the final pass, the material is tightly formed to meet specific dimensional and tolerance standards, and a smooth finish is applied for quality.

Another variation, shear forming, completes the part in a single pass, making it ideal for efficient, high-strength applications. In this process, the roller keeps the flange section vertical as it presses against the metal, differing from multipass spinning, where the flange moves back and forth throughout the process. These two methods—multipass spinning for gradual shaping and shear forming for swift, precise forming—allow metal spinning to meet diverse industrial needs.

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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of globalmetalspinning.com