Forming processes

Forming processes are particular manufacturing processes which make use of suitable stresses (like compression, tension, shear or combined stresses) which cause plastic deformation of the materials to produce required shapes. The main material used is metal due to the massive need for various products demanded by the public, nevertheless other compounds like plastic can be formed too due to a big market for plastic based products.

During forming processes no material is removed, i.e. they are deformed and displaced.

In industrial processes, forming is characterized by:

  High levels of loads and stresses ranging from 50 to 2,500 newtons per square millimeter.
  Big, heavy and expensive machinery, which can generate a high amount of stresses and loads.
  Many parts that are produced in less time, which helps in maximizing the production economy or reaching economies of scale.

Some of example of forming processes are:

• Forging
• Extrusion
• Rolling
• Sheet metal working
• Rotary swaging
• Thread rolling
• Explosive forming
• Electromagnetic forming