What is Tube Hydroforming? The History and Background Explained

First developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, tube
hydroforming is the process by which pressurized fluid, either hydraulic fluid
or water, is used to expand and shape metal tubes into the contours of a die.
Since there are no welded seams, tubular hydroforming can be used to fabricate
structural parts that are lighter, more rigid, and stronger than stamped sheet
metal.

In the tubular hydroforming process, a tube is placed into a
forming die. The ends of the tube are sealed, and the tube is filled and
pressurized with fluid. The internal pressure forces the tube to form the shape
of the tool cavity. This allows for complex shapes to be manufactured in a
single step, giving tighter tolerances and a smoother finish over more
traditional stamping methods, and can also lessen the effects of spring back in
the finished product. Hydroforming makes it possible to create tubes for any
unique fit and provides improved consistency by reducing dimensional
variations.

What Is Tube Hydroforming?

New materials are constantly being researched, but almost any
ductile metal, such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, or brass can
be shaped at room temperature from tubular blanks.

Hydroforming
Round steel pipe awaiting processing.

Heavily used in the automotive, bicycling and other industries,
there is a growing demand for hydroformed products. Using this method, experts
can fabricate products to suit almost any structural application, typically at
lower costs than more labor-intensive processes that require extra handling for
additional steps such as welding or drilling. Parts can also be formed without
the scratches and tool marks normally associated with stamping, so less labor
is involved in smoothing and polishing.

American Hydroformers

American Hydroformers specializes in tube hydroforming. We also offer laser cutting, etching, and trimming of your finished products. Contact us today to learn how we can improve your design performance and enhance your company’s cost-effectiveness for this and many other fabrication needs.

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