Steel spinning and forming are common metalworking processes for efficiently producing precision steel products in simple or complex shapes. Depending on your application and what properties you wish to achieve in a component, the various techniques that fall under spinning and forming offer many options for generating a finished part.
Understanding the differences between these manufacturing processes, how they work, and the benefits they offer can help you determine which to use for your project. Whatever your metal spinning and forming needs, the experts at Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping are here to help.
What Is Steel Metal Spinning?
If you need metal parts with a rounded structure, spun steel might be right for your operation. Metal spinning is just one of many terms for a specific type of metalworking process that involves cutting blanks from metal sheets and spinning that material to form symmetrical parts. This technique is also called spinning, metal/spin forming, metal turning, or CNC metal spinning. The metal material spins around the spindle, or the mandrel, of equipment such as manual or computer numerical control (CNC) spinning lathes to create rounded components.
Steel Forming Techniques
In addition to spinning, there are an array of metal forming processes available to create products in your desired shape. The right process for your application will depend on the specific metal you’re using and the features that your end product requires. Forming options include:
- Hot rolling. This process involves roll-pressing a billet at high temperatures greater than that of steel’s recrystallization point for optimal formability. When the material cools, it ultimately hardens into the final shape, such as plates, bars, or coils.
- Cold rolling. Alternately, cold rolling is a post-hard-rolling procedure that processes steel at or close to the ambient temperature. This process can achieve tighter tolerances, making it an ideal choice for components in high-precision applications, and it enhances the steel’s hardness and deformation resistance.
- Forging. Like hot rolling, forging utilizes heat to make the steel malleable, allowing manufacturers to shape a part through compressive force. Localizing this force creates strong components with minimal secondary processing necessary.
- Extrusion. By applying force to steel to pass it through a die, you create a metal form in the shape of the die’s cross-section design. The process is versatile in that it can create configurations ranging from simple to complex, as well as produce hollow components.
- Stamping. When metal coils or sheets enter a stamping press, the press applies pressure to the metal utilizing a tool and die in the desired configuration, effectively cutting that shape from the source material. It’s optimal for fast, high-volume production runs of repeatable parts.
- Deep drawing. This metal forming technique also uses a press and entails shaping sheets of steel into a hollow cylinder, square, or rectangular vessel. Using compression force, a die pushes the metal into a cavity to create a specific shape with no seams.
Types of Steel We Spin and Form
We work with multiple types of steel at Metal Craft, such as:
- Galvanized steel. This durable yet economical steel type offers good formability and includes a zinc coating that provides additional resistance to abrasion, rust, and corrosion.
- Mild steel. This metal is a low-carbon steel with high tensile strength that’s well-suited to cold forming for its optimal malleability.
- Stainless steel. Consisting of materials like molybdenum, chromium, and nickel, stainless steel offers optimal strength and corrosion and temperature resistance, as well as ductility and formability.
Benefits of Steel Spinning and Forming
Steel spinning and forming offer numerous advantages over other types of metalworking processes, including:
- Uniform accuracy. Spinning and forming are capable of producing high-precision parts with repeatable consistency.
- Optimized tensile strength. Metal spinning creates work-hardened parts with greater tensile strength because the process entails multiple tooling passes.
- Configuration flexibility. Metal spinning and forming have the capability to create products with complex shapes and varied forms for maximum versatility.
- Reduced costs. As these processes utilize more cost-efficient tooling and generate minimal scrap, spinning and forming can be beneficial for your budget.
Applications of Steel Spinning and Forming
Diverse industries utilize metal spinning and forming to produce high-quality steel products. Some specific applications for spun and formed parts include:
- Industrial equipment components
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
- Air pollution and air handling systems
- Industrial and commercial lighting fixtures
- Architectural, roofing, and related products
- Industrial vacuums, waste bins, and other sanitation products
- Furniture and its components
Custom Spun Steel Parts at Metal Craft Spinning and Stamping
Since 1969, Metal Craft has offered precision services ranging from metal spinning and forming to stamping and waterjet cutting. Our team emphasizes quality, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction, combining our experienced staff and advanced fabrication equipment to provide innovative solutions for your metalworking needs. To get started on your next project, request a quote today.