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| Warm Forming |
Warm Forming is the process of forming metal that has been heated to a temperature that allows
for greater malleability without causing adverse effects to the metal structure that is caused at
greater temperatures. Examples of these undesirable effects include re-crystallization, grain growth, and metallurgical fracture. The process allows the part to be successfully formed to final
tolerance, which eliminates the need for secondary machining operations. Material, geometry and
final specifications and tolerances are all factors that manufacturers look at to decide
temperatures used in warm forming operations. Temperatures for warm forging can range from
200-850 degrees C.
Oh, and if you're wondering why a cold forming website is talking about warm forming, don't worry about it... you think to much! They are closely related.
Warm forming along in conjunction with carbide dies has been used for decades, primarily in the aerospace industry due to the use of metals such as titanium. Originally induction heaters were added to machines for use in warm forging. Today, specialized machines like FORMAX use advanced technology designed specifically for warm-formed applications.
Possible applications for warm forming include:
- Commercial Stainless Steels
- FA 286 SS
- High Carbon & Alloy Steels
- Inconel
- Titanium (6-2, 6-4)
Cold forming machines can be adapted or specially designed to be warm formers, where the following features may be added:
- High-Frequency Converter
- External Circuit / Transformer
- Buss Bar
- Induction Coil
- Cooling System
- Converter & Induction Coil
- Machine: Die Block, Induction Coil Bracket, & Die Lube
- Heater for Die Lube
- Wire Temperature Sensor (Pyrometer)
- Automated Blank Drop
- Blank or Feed Indicator
- Fire Suppression System
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