A metal forming shop require a wide range of machines and equipment. Remember, forming metals involve series of operations such as cutting, bending, shearing, etc.

Every process requires a unique tool and equipment suitable for a particular task.

In this section, we are going to list all machines you need for any material forming operation:

1. Shearing Machines

These are machines you use to cut through metal. They can cut several metals into different designs and shapes.

Some of these machines include-

• Guillotine Shear– it uses a straight blade to cut through metal.
• Alligator Shear– use this for smaller pieces of sheet metal. An alligator shear is not recommended for large metal pieces.
• Hydraulic Shear– this cutting machine uses hydraulic power to shear through metal. This machine is common in big industries. It is common for large pieces of metal.
• Rotary Shear– it uses a rotary blade that moves in circles to cut through metal. This can cut through many metals in a short time.

You can also learn more about: What is Metal Shearing.

2. Drawing Machines

This is a machine for reducing the cross-sectional area of metal materials by pulling them through a die.

The metal is drawn through a die to reduce its diameter. It also improves its mechanical properties and increases its length.

Examples of drawing machines include-

• Wire Drawing Machine– this one reduces the diameter of metal wires. The wire metals are pulled through several smaller dies to get the needed thickness.
• Tube Drawing Machine– this machine reduces the diameter of metal tubes. Like the wire drawing machine, the tube metals are pulled through dies to achieve the required shape and thickness.
• Bar Drawing Machine– this one reduces the diameter of metal bars. The bar metals are pulled through several smaller dies to get the needed thickness.
• Rod Drawing Machine– this one decreases the diameter of metal rods. This is used for thicker rods. The metal rods are pulled through several smaller dies to get the needed length while reducing its diameter.

For your operations, you may consider hydraulic deep drawing machine. Besides, you may also learn more about deep drawing process.

3. Rolling Machines

This is a machine you use to form or shape metals into desired shapes. The metals are passed through rollers to form different shapes.

Rolling machines include-

• Hot Rolling Mill– this is where a metal is heated above its recrystallization temperature. Heating the metal makes it easier to shape.
• Cold Rolling Mill– this is changing the form of the metal while at room temperature.
• Plate Rolling Machine– this machine rolls metals into cylindrical shapes.
• Section Rolling Machine– this machine is made to roll structural sections like I-beams, H-beams, angles, and channels. It is common in the construction industry for building structural components.
• Thread Rolling Machine– this forms thread on bolts, screws, and fasteners by rolling the metal through two dies.
• Ring Rolling Machine– this machine is used in making large-diameter rings for gears, flanges, or bearings. It rolls metal rings to decrease their thickness while increasing their diameter.
• Cluster Rolling Mill– this produces thin materials by utilizing several roll arrangers in cluster positions.
• Planetary Rolling Mill– planetary rolls help to reduce the thickness of the metal quickly. This enables one to achieve the desired shape and design during rolling process.

4. Press Machines

Press machines are utilized in various industries to apply pressure on a workpiece, shaping, cutting, or putting it together.

• Mechanical Press– this machine uses mechanical systems such as gears, cranks, or flywheels to store and release energy for the pressing operation. It is used for high-speed production, stamping, bending, blanking, and punching.
• Hydraulic Press– it is used for deep drawing, metal forming, forging, and molding plastic parts. It works using hydraulic cylinders that generate a large force by applying fluid pressure.
• Pneumatic Press– this machine uses compressed air to generate pressure for the operation.
• Servo Press– it uses electric servomotors, which allow for precise control of speed, position, and force.
• Forging Press– the machine uses compressive forces to reshape metals into required shapes.
• Blanking Press– this is where metal is cut in precise shapes. The piece of material is separated from the surrounding sheet using a die.
• Punch Press– this machine punches holes in sheet metal. It also performs other cutting and shaping operations.

5. Extrusion Machines

These machines push or draw the metal through a die to create a fixed cross-sectional profile.

• Hot Extrusion Machine– this is where a metal is heated above its recrystallization temperature. Heating the metal makes it ductile hence making it easier to shape. The metal is deformed when still at high temperatures.
• Cold Extrusion Machine– metals are extruded at room temperature and pushed through a die to create shapes. This method may be a little difficult compared to the hot extrusion method.
• Direct Extrusion Machine– the machine forces the metal through the die in the same direction as the ram movement.
• Indirect Extrusion Machine– the die moves toward the metal, which remains stationary, requiring less friction.

6. Spinning Machines

These machines rotate metals against a tool that does not move to create symmetrical, hollow parts.

• Metal Spinning Lathe– it rotates metals against a tool that does not move to create symmetrical, hollow parts.
• Flow Forming Machine– it applies pressure to a metal disc or tube to elongate and shape it into a desired form. It uses a combination of rotating and radial forces.
• Shear Forming Machine– it reshapes the metal by forcing it against a die or mandrel with a tool that moves in a shearing action. It utilizes a combination of rotating and shear forces.

7. Embossing Machines

Embossing involves passing metal sheets between matched male and female dies that press the design into the material without significantly altering its thickness. It creates designs, patterns, and textures on metal surfaces.

• Embossing Press– it imprints designs into metal parts for functional or decorative purposes.
• Embossing Rollers– uses cylindrical rollers to imprint designs into metal parts.

8. Bending Machines

This machine forms and shapes metal parts into desired shapes by bending and curving them.

• Press Brake– uses a punch and die to bend metal sheets by applying a vertical force.
• Plate Bending Machine– it bends metal plates into various shapes, such as cylinders, cones, or custom curves.
• Angle Bending Machine– use a set of rollers or dies to achieve the desired angle.
• Tube Bending Machine– it bends metals into tubular shapes.
• Pipe Bending Machine– pipe benders are made to bend tubular materials into various angles and radii.
• Section Bending Machine– they bend structural sections into curved shapes.

Additionally, you may also learn more on sheet metal bending process.

9. Forging Machines

This machine shapes metals using compressive forces.

• Drop Hammer– a hammer drops and strikes the metal to the desired shape.
• Power Hammer– mechanical means lifting and dropping the hammer.
• Hydraulic Forging Press– hydraulic cylinders are utilized to apply pressure on the metals.
• Upset Forging Machine– it increases the cross-sectional area of the metal by compressing it in one direction while allowing it to expand in the perpendicular direction.
• Orbital Forging Machine– the machine shapes metal parts through an orbital motion.

Of course, we also have hot forging press and cold forging press.

10. Stamping Machines

They are equipment that use punches to cut and form metals into specific parts

• Transfer Stamping Press– It moves metal workpieces from one place to another where operations such as forming or bending are performed in sequence. It is perfect for manufacturing complex parts with several forming stages. It is used in automotive body panels.
• Progressive Die Stamping Machine– Here a metal strip is fed through a sequence of stations with just one press. Every station conducts a specific operation such as punching. Its application ranges from the manufacturing of high to medium parts like electrical connectors.
• Fine Blanking Machine– Fine blanking is a high-precision process that results in the production of flat and smooth surfaces with accurate dimensions. It is used in components like gears in automotive industries.

In today’s metal fabrication process, hydraulic stamping presses are widely used. These may include in a wide range of operations such as progressive die stamping or hot stamping process.

11. Planishing Machines

They are equipment that are utilized in metalworking to smoothen and finish the metal surfaces. They include:

• Planishing Hammer– It applies several light hammer bows that smoothen and finish the metal surface. It is popularly used in welding to create an even surface.
• Planishing Press– It utilizes a hydraulic press to apply pressure to workpieces. It is ideal for high-level production. It is applicable in the automotive and aerospace industries.

12. Thread Rolling Machines

They are specialized machines that create threads on conical workpieces.

• Thread Rolling Machine– This machine creates outward threads on cylindrical parts such as bolts by pressing the workpiece in between two or more dies with a thread pattern. It produces strong threads used in industries like construction industries.
• Spline Rolling Machine– It rolls workpieces between specific dies creating teeth or ridges on shafts. This produces strong splines used in producing gear shafts and transmission parts.

13. Coining Machines

These are metalworking tools that apply high pressure to metal workpieces to make specific designs or refine the shape of a piece.

• Coining Press– It is often used for minting coins and producing medallions. It applies pressure to a metal blank to make detailed intricate designs.

14. Swaging Machines

They are tools used to alter the shape of metal rods, wires or tubes by using radial force.

• Rotary Swaging Machine– It uses dies to reduce the diameter of a metal rod by hammering it inwardly. It is used in bullet castings and the production of tapered components.
• Hydraulic Swaging Machine– It is used for assembling connectors onto cables. It uses hydraulic force to compress the metal workpiece into a precise shape.

15. Stretch Forming Machines

They are specialized equipment that shapes big curved metal parts by stretching forming and bending.

• Hydraulic Stretch Forming Machine– It uses hydraulic force to bend an extrusion over a die. It is used in manufacturing architectural components and vehicle parts.
• Pneumatic Stretch Forming Machine-it uses pneumatic force to bend metal sheets over a die. It is used in smaller aerospace components.

16. Power Press

A machine commonly used in the production and development of automotive parts and metal components. This machine uses pneumatic, mechanical, and hydraulic forces to cut or shape a metal by pressing it against a die.

17. Hydroforming Press

This machine is utilized in the aerospace industry to make exhaust components like engine cradles. It uses hydraulic fluid with a high force that presses the sheet of metal into a die, creating various complex shapes. You can learn more about hydroforming process.

18. Ring Expanding Machine

It is used in production bearing races, huge rings in pipelines, and wind turbines. It stretches rings to the required dimensions by pressing them on the outside against a forming die.

19. Rotary Die Cutting Machine

It uses a cylindrical rotatory die that rotates to cut materials as it gets by the machine. It is best for large-volume parts manufacturing. It is utilized for packaging, and labeling by precisely cutting off metals such as metal foils.

20. Laser Cutting Machine

It is used in fabricating metal parts in the electronics, art, and automotive industries. It utilizes a laser beam that is highly powered to cut, engrave, or mark metal. The laser vaporizes the material along a predetermined path, granting intricate designs.

21. Plasma Cutting Machine

It is used in construction industries and repair shops to cut metal plates, sheets, and pipes. It uses a high –velocity of ionized gas to cut materials such as copper and aluminum that conduct electricity. It is extremely hot and this helps it to easily and quickly cut through thick materials.

Conclusion

Metal forming machines play a critical role in modern production by enabling precise modification of workpieces thus meeting desired specifications.

If you are looking for any fabrication machine for your shop, TSINFA team is here to help you get high quality machines – contact us now for inquiries.