Introduction to 20 types of Metal Processing and Forming Technologies

Die Casting

It is a metal casting process characterized by the use of a mold cavity to apply high pressure to the molten metal. The molds are usually made of a higher-strength alloy and the process is somewhat similar to injection molding.

Sand casting

Use sand to make the mold. Sand casting requires placing a finished part model or wooden model into the sand and then filling it with sand at the end of the pattern. Once the pattern is removed from the box, the sand forms a mold.

In order to remove the model before casting the metal, the mold should be made into two or more parts; during the manufacturing process of the mold, holes for pouring metal into the mold and vents must be left to synthesize the casting system.

After pouring the molten metal into the mold, keep it for a suitable time until the metal solidifies. After the part is removed, the mold is destroyed, so a new mold must be made for each casting.

Investment Casting

Also known as lost wax casting, it includes processes such as wax pressing, wax repairing, tree assembling, slurry dipping, wax melting, pouring molten metal, and post-processing. Lost wax casting is to use wax to make a wax model of the parts to be cast, and then apply mud on the wax model, which is a mud model.

After the clay molds are dry, they are baked into pottery molds. Once baked, the wax model completely melts and disappears, leaving only the ceramic model. Generally, a pouring gate is left when making a clay mold, and then the molten metal is poured from the pouring gate. After cooling, the desired parts are made.
 

Die Forging

It is a forging method that uses a die to form a blank on a special die forging equipment to obtain a forging. Depending on the equipment, die forging is divided into hammer forging, crank press forging, flat forging machine forging, friction press forging, etc.

Roll forging is a plastic forming process in which the material is plastically deformed by a pair of counter-rotating dies to obtain the desired forging or blank. It is a special form of forming rolling (longitudinal rolling).
 

Forging

It is a processing method that uses forging machinery to apply pressure to metal blanks to cause them to undergo plastic deformation in order to obtain forgings with certain mechanical properties, shapes and sizes. It is one of the two major components of forgings (forging and stamping). Forging can eliminate defects such as loose cast state during the smelting process and optimize the microstructure.

At the same time, since the complete metal flow lines are retained, the mechanical properties of forgings are generally better than those of castings of the same material. For important parts of related machinery that are subject to high loads and harsh working conditions, forgings are often used, in addition to simpler shapes, profiles or welded parts that can be rolled.
 

Scroll

Also known as rolling, it refers to the process of shaping a metal ingot by passing it through a pair of rollers. If the temperature of the metal during rolling exceeds its recrystallization temperature, the process is called "hot rolling", otherwise it is called "cold rolling". Rolling is the most common method in metal working.
 

Centrifugal Casting

It is a technology and method that injects liquid metal into a high-speed rotating mold, so that the molten metal fills the mold and forms a casting under the action of centrifugal force. The mold used for centrifugal casting can be a non-metal mold (such as a sand mold, a shell mold or an investment shell mold), a metal mold or a coating or resin sand layer in the casting metal mold, depending on the shape, size and production batch of the casting.
 

Squeeze Casting

Also known as liquid die forging, it is the process of injecting molten metal or semi-solid alloy directly into an open die, then closing the die to produce a filling flow to reach the shape of the part, and then applying high pressure to shape the die.

The solidified metal (shell) undergoes plastic deformation, and the unsolidified metal is subjected to isostatic pressing and high-pressure solidification occurs simultaneously to obtain the final product or blank.

The above is direct extrusion casting; indirect extrusion casting refers to injecting molten metal or semi-solid alloy into a closed mold cavity through a punch, applying high pressure to crystallize and solidify under pressure to form the final product or billet.
 

Continuous Casting

It is a casting method that uses a through-type mold to continuously pour liquid metal at one end and continuously pull out the molded material from the other end.
Drawing is a plastic processing method that uses external force to act on the front end of the drawn metal to pull the metal blank out of a die hole smaller than the cross-section of the blank to obtain a product of corresponding shape and size.
Since drawing is mostly carried out in a cold state, it is also called cold drawing or cold drawing.

Stamping

Stamping is a forming method that relies on a press and a die to apply external force to plates, strips, tubes and profiles to cause them to undergo plastic deformation or separation, thereby obtaining a workpiece (stamping part) of the desired shape and size.

Metal Injection Molding (MIM)

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is a new powder metallurgy near-net shaping technology originated from the plastic injection molding industry. As we all know, plastic injection molding technology can produce various products with complex shapes at a low price. However, the strength of plastic products is not high.

To improve its performance, metal or ceramic powder can be added to the plastic to obtain a product with higher strength and good wear resistance.

In recent years, the idea has evolved to maximize the solid particle content and completely remove the binder and densify the compact during the subsequent sintering process. This new powder metallurgy molding method is called metal injection molding.
 

Lathe processing

It is part of machining. Lathe processing mainly uses a turning tool to turn the rotating workpiece. Lathes are mainly used to process workpieces with rotating surfaces such as shafts, disks, and sleeves.

They are the most widely used type of machine tool processing in machinery manufacturing and repair plants. Turning is a method of cutting a workpiece by rotating it relative to the tool on a lathe. The cutting energy in turning is mainly provided by the workpiece rather than the tool.

Turning is the most basic and most commonly used cutting method and occupies a very important position in production. Turning is suitable for machining rotating surfaces.

Most workpieces with rotating surfaces can be machined by turning, such as internal and external cylindrical surfaces, internal and external conical surfaces, end faces, grooves, threads, rotating forming surfaces, etc. The tools used are mainly turning tools.
 

Grinding

The blank is fixed and a high-speed rotating milling cutter is moved on the blank to cut out the desired shape and features. Conventional milling is primarily used to mill simple shapes/features such as contours and grooves. CNC milling machines can produce complex shapes and features.

The milling and boring machining center can perform three-axis or multi-axis milling and boring processing, and is used for machining, molds, gauges, dies, thin-walled complex surfaces, artificial prostheses, blades, etc. The content of CNC milling processing should give full play to the advantages and key functions of CNC milling machines.
 

Planing

It is a cutting method that uses a planer to perform horizontal relative linear reciprocating motion on the workpiece, and is mainly used for the shape processing of parts. The planing accuracy is IT9~IT7, and the surface roughness Ra is 6.3~1.6um.
 

Grinding

It refers to a processing method that uses abrasives and grinding tools to remove excess material from the workpiece. Grinding is one of the most widely used cutting methods.
 

Metal Deposition

It is somewhat similar to the "squeezing butter" type of molten deposition, but it is sprayed out with metal powder. The nozzle also provides high-power laser and inert gas protection while spraying metal powder materials.

This way, there will be no limitation on the size of the metal powder box, and larger parts can be manufactured directly. It is also very suitable for repairing precision parts with local damage.
 

Roll forming

The roll forming method uses a series of continuous stands to roll stainless steel into complex shapes. The sequence of rollers is designed so that the roller profile of each frame can continuously deform the metal until the desired final shape is achieved.

If the component has a complex shape, up to thirty-six racks may be used, but for components of simple shape, three or four racks are sufficient.
 

Die Cutting

It is a punching process. The film formed in the previous process is positioned on the male mold of the die, and the mold is closed to remove excess material, retaining the 3D shape of the product and matching it with the mold cavity.
 

Die cutting process

Also known as die cutting process, the film panel or circuit is positioned on the base plate, the die cutter is fixed on the template on the machine, and the force provided by the downward pressure of the machine is used to control the blade to cut the material. The difference between it and the punching die is that the cut is smoother.

At the same time, by adjusting the cutting pressure and depth, you can create indentation, half-break and other effects. At the same time, low-cost mold operation is more convenient, safer and faster.

 

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