Metallic components can be shaped in a manner similar to the molding
of pottery. The raw material of a fundamental simpler shape is provided
by a primary process like casting, powder consolidation, earlier forming
processes, or even by electric deposition. Metals deform very much like
soft clay or wax. Even in the solid state, permanent changes in shape can
be forced upon them by displacement of relative positions between neighboring
material points. To enforce these changes, external forces are applied.
While soft plasticine can be molded by tiny toddler's fingers, for metalforming,
specially constructed tooling, usually of hard materials, are manipulated,
sometimes by colossal machinery.
A variety of processes, the equipment and the tooling, and the concepts
involved are discussed in Ref.
133. This will provide an understanding of the state of the art in
metalforming, typical processes (not all), and basic phenomena of concepts
involved.
A slide presentation of this article is available
through Metalforming, Inc.
