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 Shape
Alliance member companies offer a variety of manufacturing processes.
You can learn more about each of these processes here.
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Cold
drawing involves pulling steel tubes over an inside die (called
a mandrel) and, at the same time, through an outside die. This process
results in extremely close ID, OD and wall thickness tolerances.
Cold drawing also improves the surface condition of the tube, and
can be used to create interior or exterior shapes, such as square
or hexagons.
The
Process:
Steel tubes are heat treated to improve workability, and then "pickled,"
cleaning them in an acid bath. Once cooled, the tube is "pointed,"
squeezing one end smaller to fit the jaws on the cold draw machine.
The internal die, called a mandrel, is inserted and then the jaws
begin to pull the hollow tube over the mandrel and through an outside
die. An area of reduction of 20-35% is normal for cold finishing.
After cold drawing, the tube is annealed to relieve internal stresses
and straightened. The tubes are then cut to length, cleaned in an
acid bath, dipped in a rust inhibitor and bundled for shipment.
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Cold
Drawing : Solid Shapes - Contours, Ltd.
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The
Process:
The extrusion process can produce pipe, hollow
shapes or solid shapes in long lengths. The starting raw material
is a large diameter bar of the required grade of steel. These bars
are cut to the appropriate billet length to produce the desired
finish length. Dies are produced with the contour of the shape cut
in the die. The billets are heated to 2100† to 2300† before being
put into the water hydraulic press. The billet is rolled in crushed
glass (which acts as a lubricant) and put into the extrusion press
container. The press ram applies 2500T of pressure to expand the
billet to fill the container. The billet is then forced through
the die in one to five seconds. As the material is forced through
the die, it takes the shape of the die profile. The long lengths
are then annealed if necessary; stretch straightened; shot blasted;
bump straightened and detwisted as required; acid pickled if a stainless
grade, inspected for tolerances and shipped.
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Shape
Processing - LMC, Inc.
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