Introduction
Stamping and cold working are forming processes that take place below the material re-crystallization temperature. At Fobric we are specialized in cold forming and we use our know-how to uniquely serve our customers and partners.
What is it?
Cold forming is a high-speed forging process in which wire wound at room temperature is cut with precision and then moved under a sequence of dies and punches that progressively shape the part to the desired geometry.
The metal is stressed beyond its elastic limit and maintains its altered shape after it is extracted from the die. The load does not exceed the tensile strength, otherwise fracture would occur (the exception is when cutting or punching).
Historically cold forming has been an empirically based technology, but this is changing with new computer-based analytical tools constantly being developed.
Design considerations
Several considerations should be taken into account in terms of geometry when designing components for the cold forming process. Minimal modifications during design that do not compromise functional integrity can save stages or eliminate the need for second operations. One of the reasons for this is that most presses are only designed to work on one axis. The other reason is the greater or lesser forming capacity of the material we are working with, and the shear cutting that has great influence on the tops of the part.
Fobric has developed innovative techniques that have caused many limits to become obsolete, which means that they depend on how sophisticated the technology used is.
Raw material
The choice of material is a very important step in any process and it must be chosen according to the required technical specifications and properties of the final product. The range of materials used in cold forming is very extensive, including steel, copper, aluminum, and titanium alloys. Fobric offers designers support in material selection.
Equipment
Transfer press
This process is suitable to produce large series of components, capable of generating complex shapes with reduced tolerances.
The components are produced in a multi-stage press where all operates simultaneously.
Artificial vision sorting machine
Sorting through 100% artificial vision that allows for the detection of non-conformities.