Rubber pad forming
Encyclopedia
Rubber pad forming is a metalworking
process where sheet metal
is pressed between a die
and rubber
block. Under pressure, the rubber and sheet metal are driven into the die and conform to its shape, forming the part.
Rubber pad forming has been used in production lines for many years. Up to 60% of all sheet metal parts are fabricated using this process.
, however, rubber pads exert less pressure in the same circumstances as non-elastic parts, which may lead to less definition in forming, and rubber pads wear more quickly than steel parts.
Metalworking
Metalworking is the process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large scale structures. The term covers a wide range of work from large ships and bridges to precise engine parts and delicate jewelry. It therefore includes a correspondingly wide range of skills,...
process where sheet metal
Sheet metal
Sheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and can be cut and bent into a variety of different shapes. Countless everyday objects are constructed of the material...
is pressed between a die
Die (manufacturing)
A die is a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material using a press. Like molds, dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create...
and rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
block. Under pressure, the rubber and sheet metal are driven into the die and conform to its shape, forming the part.
Rubber pad forming has been used in production lines for many years. Up to 60% of all sheet metal parts are fabricated using this process.
Definition
Rubber pad forming can be accomplished in many different ways, and as technology has advanced, so have the applications for this simple process. In general, an elastic upper die, usually made of rubber, is connected to a hydraulic press. A rigid lower die, often called a form block, provides the mold for the sheeted metal to be formed to. Because the upper (male) die can be used with separate lower (female) dies, the process is relatively cheap and flexible. The worked metal is not worn as quickly as in more conventional processes such as deep drawingDeep drawing
Deep drawing is a sheet metal forming process in which a sheet metal blank is radially drawn into a forming die by the mechanical action of a punch. It is thus a shape transformation process with material retention. The process is considered "deep" drawing when the depth of the drawn part exceeds...
, however, rubber pads exert less pressure in the same circumstances as non-elastic parts, which may lead to less definition in forming, and rubber pads wear more quickly than steel parts.
The Guerin process
The Guerin process, also called Guerin Stamping, is a manufacturing process used in the shaping of sheet metals. It is the oldest and most basic of the production rubber-pad forming processes.Other types of rubber pad forming
- HydroformingHydroformingHydroforming is a cost-effective way of shaping malleable metals such as aluminum or brass into lightweight, structurally stiff and strong pieces. One of the largest applications of hydroforming is the automotive industry, which makes use of the complex shapes possible by hydroforming to produce...
- VersonVerson Allsteel Press Co.Verson Allsteel Press Co. was a manufacturer of machine tools in Chicago, IL. It built sheet-metal presses of all sizes, including some weighing thousands of tons and as tall as a three-story building. Major customers for such presses are automobile and appliance manufacturers...
-Wheelon process - Marform process
- Hydrobuckling
- Aquadraw hydraulic process