Advanced Manufacturing | Metal Forming & Joining Technologies

Advanced Manufacturing | Metal Forming Technologies

Hydroforming

Tube hydroforming is performed by applying hydrostatic pressure from inside the tube. This process results in uniform mechanical properties with low springback and low residual stress from the forming process. This forming technology allows for production of a broad range of part shapes and sizes and helps reduce the number of production steps when compared to traditional manufacturing methods. Sheet metal hydroforming is performed by applying hydrostatic pressure on one side of the sheet metal. This advanced manufacturing technology allows for a higher forming ratio than deep drawing so is ideal for materials such as aluminum. Sheet hydroforming guarantees better mechanical properties due to uniform stretching during the forming process. The investment costs for tooling are also lower due to the use of a one-sided die.

LPR Global offers hydroforming prototyping services, contract manufacturing, and hydroforming presses for tube and sheet hydroforming. Used in the automotive and aerospace industries, our presses have been supplied to POSCO (800kN/250kN press), Samsung/Fine DNC (4000kN press), and Sekyo (15,000kN press).

Superplastic Forming | Thermoforming, Blow Forming

Superplastic forming is an advanced manufacturing process with high shaping accuracy and no springback effect or residual stresses. Other advantages of superplastic forming lie in the high formability and design flexibility to produce complex shapes. The ability to produce larger parts minimizes the weight and assembly required, which is crucial for automotive lightweighting as well as for the aerospace industry.

Our prototype manufacturing and small batch superplastic forming manufacturing services are ideal for complex parts and specialized applications.

Thixoforming | Semi-Solid Metal Casting

Thixoforming or semi-solid metal casting (SSM) is a manufacturing process that combines the advantages of both casting and forging of non-ferrous metals by forming parts between casting and forging temperatures. Thus, thixoforming allows the production of lightweight, near net shape complex parts with tight tolerances due to reduced shrinkage. Compared to typical castings, the parts produced by thixoforming are also porosity-free and have uniform microstructures. The lower temperatures required for production also result in lower investment costs for tooling since exotic metals for tooling are typically not required.

In addition to thixoforming contract manufacturing services, we also supply thixoforming presses with speeds up to 600mm/sec and precise control over the entire stroke.