http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_TechCell.cfm The Hydroforming tech cell is packed with specific links to help you find product information, suppliers, technical articles, case studies, seminars and conferences, as well as books, software, and videos on metal fabricating-related topics. en-us http://www.thefabricator.com/RSS/images/thefabricator_rss.gif http://www.thefabricator.com Copyright 2007 FMA Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. official publication date Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:15:11 AM CDT Vicki Bell Laurie Harshbarger http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1651 Editor's Note: This article appeared previously on www.thefabricator.com. The growth in hydroforming use has slowed as automakers and part suppliers, particularly in the automotive industry, are taking a step back to examine manufacturing options in an effort to determine the most efficient, cost-effective process. Some even have reverted to stamping and welding formerly hydroformed parts. Rationalization such as this is good and healthy for both customers and suppliers to ensur... Gary Morphy Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1614 North American automakers are producing more specialty vehicles in limited quantities for niche markets. The vehicles are stylish and sporty and lure customers into showrooms. The most economical way to put a variety of specialty cars on the road is with a common platform or chassis with different bodies and styling. North American OEMs are introducing single platforms for two or three different low-volume models. For example, a common GM platform frame is used in the Pontia... Trent Maki and Cam Walter Tue, 08 May 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1607 Editor's Note: This article was adapted from the paper "Springback Characteristics of Bent Tubes for Hydroforming Applications," which was presented at the 4th Annual North American Hydroforming Conference & Exhibition, Sept. 25-27, 2006 London, Ontario, Canada. The use of hydroforming technology continues to grow even though initial investment for a hydroforming line is high and production rates are low, when compared with conventional stamping. Its growth continu... Dr. Ho-Kook Lee and C.J. Van Tyne Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1463 Research shows that in forming lightweight materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloys, the formability increases as the temperature increases, especially in the range from 200 degrees C to 300 degrees C (392 degrees F to 572 degrees F).1-5 The Center for Precision Forming (CPF, formerly Engineering Research Center for Net Shape Manufacturing [ERC/NSM] at The Ohio State University), Applied Engineering Solutions, and partners Interlaken Technology Corp. and AddisonMckee Inc. have developed a... Yingyot Aue-u-lan, Jon Ander Esnaloa, David Guza, and Taylan Altan, Contributing Writers Tue, 03 Oct 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1462 Tube hydroforming has evolved over the last 20 years and now is being used to make many different parts more efficiently. The most common and highest-profile applications have been in the automotive industry. Structural components perhaps are the most touted hydroformed parts, because the benefits derived from hydroforming them, such as increased performance and weight and cost reductions, are very important. Because of these and other benefits (Figure 1), the implementation... Gary Morphy, Contributing Writer Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1378 Much of the attention on hydroforming concerns automotive components and focuses on weight savings, strength improvements, and reducing the number of parts. While all of these are advantages gained through hydroforming, a less commonly discussed reason to hydroform components is more design options. In some cases, hydroforming is the only method that can generate a unique geometry in a single process or as the final step in a combination of processes. Hydroforming is useful for manu... Paul Tauzer Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1369 Figure 1 Hydroformed Sheet Metal Part When designers and engineers consider how to manufacture structural parts, they may think about several options, including tube hydroforming, a relatively new technique used to make an increasing variety of parts for an increasing number of purposes. Hydroforming basically is a technique that uses a fluid either to form or aid in forming a part from ductile metal. Figure 1 shows a part that was hydroformed from sheet ... Gary Morphy, Contributing Writer Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1342 Because of the increased use of high-strength steel for automotive safety components, a metal forming process called press hardening has been gaining attention for developing lightweight automotive components. The process uses hot stamping and subsequent quenching of boron steel in a water- cooled die. The two main processes for producing structural safety components for a body-in-white (BIW) are cold forming of hot- or cold-rolled high-strength steels (HSS) ultrahigh-strength ste... Andreas Kinzyk Tue, 09 May 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1324 Editor's Note: This article is Part III of a three-part series that discusses various sheet hydroforming processes. Part I, which appeared in the February issue, discussed sheet hydroforming with a die only (SHF-D). Part II, which appeared in the March issue, reviewed sheet hydroforming with a punch (SHF-P). This column was prepared by Ajay Yadav of the Engineering Research Center for Net Shape Manufacturing (ERC/NSM), The Ohio State University, Professor Taylan Altan, director. The previo... Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/Hydroforming/Hydroforming_Article.cfm?ID=1291 Figure 1The heat exchanger shell requires forming numerous complex shapes in a short cycle time. The process of developing a hydroformed part is similar in many ways to developing a stamping. Factors that must be considered include part geometry (the amount of deformation required determines if the part can be hydroformed without splits or wrinkling); material properties (elongation, formability, yield, and strength); the pressure and press force required to form the part; tube or bla... Tom Driggers Tue, 07 Mar 2006 12:00:00 AM CST