COURS

SE: ADVA
ANCED MANUFAC
M CTURING
G PROCES
SSES

Module
M No.
N 5: OTH
HER ADVA
ANCED P
PROCESS
SES
Lecturre No-1 High
h Energy R
Rate Forming Processess

High En
nergy Rate Forming
F Pro
ocesses:
A numbeer of metho
ods have been developeed to form m
metals throuugh the appplication of large
amounts of energy in
n a very sho
ort time interval. They aare known aare High eneergy rate forrming
processess (HERF). Many metaals tend to deform moore rapidly under the ultra-rapid load
applicatio
on rates, useed in these processes.
p The
T schemattic of the HE
ERF processs and its varriants
are show
wn in Fig. 5.1
1.1.

High eneergy rates can be obtain

ned by five distinct meethods:

1. Due
D to explossions made underwater.
u
2. Due
D to underw
water spark discharge (eelectro-hydraaulic techniqques)
3. By
B some pneu
umatic (mecchanical) meeans.
4. Due
D to the intternal combu
ustion of mix
xture of gasees.
5. By
B the use off rapid force magnetic fieelds (electrom
magnetic tecchniques).

Fig. 5.1.1
5 Schema
atic of the H
HERF proceess Variantss
Major Advantages:
 It is possible to form large workpieces and difficult to form metals, with less expensive
equipment and tooling than would otherwise be required.
 Another advantage of HERF is that there is less difficulty related to spring back. This is
associated with the following two factors:
1. High compressive stresses are set up in the metal when it is forced against the die, and
2. Some slight elastic deformation of die occurs under the ultra-high pressure. The latter
results in a slight over forming of the workpiece and appears like no spring-back has
occurred.

Underwater explosions:

Three commonly used procedures under this are: (i) free forming, (ii) cylinder forming and (iii)
bulk-head forming. While these can be used for a wide range of products, they are particularly
suited for parts of thick materials like 10 feet diameter elliptical dome, only a tank of water in the
ground is required, with about six feet of water above the workpiece. The female die can be
made up of inexpensive material such as wood, plastic or low-melting temperature material.

Spark discharge method:

This method uses the energy from electrical discharges to shape the metal. Electrical energy is
stored in large capacitor banks and is then released in a controlled discharge, either between two
electrodes or across an exploding bridge wire. High energy shockwaves propagate through a
pressure transmitting medium and deform the workpiece material. The initiating wire can be pre-
shaped and shockwave reflectors can be used to adapt the process to a variety of components.
The space between the workpiece and the die is usually evacuated before the discharge occurs, to
prevent the possibility of puckering due to entrapped air. The schematic of this process is shown
in Fig. 5.1.2.

The spark discharge methods are most often used for bulging operations in small parts, but parts
upto 1.3 m in diameter have been formed. Compared to explosive forming, the discharge
techniques are easier and safer, use smaller tanks and need not be performed in remote areas.
 Switch

Container
Power Capacitor
Suppy blank
Transfer
Electrodes media

Work piece

Die Vacuum

Fig. 5.1.2 Schematic of the Spark discharge method of HERF

Pneumatic-mechanical and combustion techniques:

These are preferred when the HERF methods are applied to mass production within a plant. In a
pneumatic mechanical press, one portion of the forming die is attached to the stationary bolster
of the press bed and the other to the movable piston. Low pressure gas acts on the entire bottom
area of the piston, holding it up against a small area seal. High pressure gas is then applied to the
other side of the seal and the pressure is steadily increased. As the force pushing down (high
pressure on a small area) exceeds that pushing up (low pressure on a large area), the seal is
broken and the entire areas of the piston is exposed to high pressure gas. The piston moves
rapidly downwards, bringing the dies into contact.

Internal combustion presses operate on the same principle as that of an automobile engine. A
gaseous mixture is exploded within a cylinder, causing a piston to be driven downward in a rapid
fashion. The upper segment of the forming die is attached to the bottom of the piston. Internal
combustion pistons can produce die velocities upto 50 feet per second and cycle rates upto 60
strokes per minute. Either single or repeated blows can be used to form a part.

Electromagnetic forming (EMF):

The electromagnetic forming process is based on the principle that the EM field of an induced
current always opposes the electromagnetic field of the inducing current. A large capacitor bank
is discharged, producing a current surge through a coiled conductor. If the coil has been placed
within a conductive cylinder, around a cylinder or adjacent to a flat sheet of metal, the discharge
induces a secondary current in the workpiece, causing it to be repelled from the coil and
conformed to a die or mating workpiece. The process is very rapid and is used primarily to
expand or contract tubing or to permanently assemble component parts Coining, forming and
swaging can also be performed with electromagnetic forces.

Electroforming:

In electroforming process, the metal is electroplated onto a pre-shaped pattern or mandrel that
has been fashioned from a material such as plastic, glass, pyrex, or other metal, such as
aluminum or stainless steel. If the pattern material is non-conductive, a conductive coating is first
applied. Then, metals such as nickel, iron, copper or silver are plated in thickness upto 15 mm.
The workpiece is stripped from the mandrel as soon as the desired thickness is obtained,.
Applications:

 Explosive forming can be utilized to form a wide variety of metals, from aluminum to high
strength alloys, replacing the punch by an explosive charge.
 As in case of hydro-forming metal stamping process, HERF process exerts even force over
the entire surface of the metal blank. The HERF process is capable of producing components
large in size, with great details to very fine tolerances.
 The HERF process is employed in Aerospace and aircraft industries apart from the
production of automotive components.

Explosives Used:

Explosives are substances that undergo rapid chemical reactions during which heat and large
quantities of gaseous products are evolved. Explosives are either solid (TNT ‘tri-nitro toluene’),
liquid (Nitroglycerine) or Gaseous mixtures. Explosives are divided into two classes; Low
Explosives are those in which ammunition is burnt out very rapidly without exploding, hence the
pressure build up is not very large and High Explosives are those which have very high rates of
reaction along with large pressure build ups. In guns and rockets for missile propulsions, low
explosives are commonly used. Table-5.1.1 shows the features of these explosives. These
explosives are in the form of granules. The typical explosives used are Blasting gelatin, RDX
(Cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, C3H6N6O6), TNT (C7H5N3O6), PETN (Pentaerythritol
tetranitrate, C5H8N12O4), Tetryl (Trinitrophenylmethylinitramine, C7H5O8N5). These explosives
have detonation velocities in the range of 7000-8400 m/s and the energy liberated is in terms of
thousands of killo Joules per kilogram of explosive used.

Table- 5.1.1 Features of Low and High Explosives

Property High Explosives Low Explosives
Primary HE-ignition, spark, flame, or impact
Method of
Ignition
initiation Secondary HE-detonator, or detonator + booster

Conversion time+ Microseconds Milliseconds

Pressure upto about 40,00,000 psi upto about 40,000 psi
+ Time required for converting a working amount of high explosive into high-pressure gaseous products

Die Materials:

Different materials are used for manufacture of dies for explosive working, for instance, high
strength tool steels, plastics, concrete etc. Relatively low strength dies are used for short run
items and for parts where close tolerances are not critical, while for longer runs, high strength die
materials are required. Kirksite and plastic (fiber glass) faced dies are employed for light forming
operations requiring low pressures and used for fewer parts. Ductile iron is used in high
pressures and for mass production, whereas concrete is used for medium pressure and large part
requirements.

Explosive Forming Characteristics:

 Used in very large sheets with relatively complex shapes of preferably axis-symmetric
sections.
 It has low tooling costs, but high labor cost.
 It is suitable for low-quantity production.
 It has long cycle times.

Transmission Medium:

Energy released by the explosive is transmitted through medium like air, water, oil, gelatin,
liquid salts. Water is one of the best media for explosive forming since it is available readily,
inexpensive and produces excellent results. The transmission medium is important regarding
pressure magnitude at the workpiece. Water is more desirable medium than air for producing
high peak pressures to the workpiece.

Formability Aspects:

Formability has been defined as the ability of a sheet metal to be deformed by a specific sheet
metal forming process from its original shape to a defined shape without failure. In normal
explosive forming operations, the major characteristics of the work metal that determine
formability are ductility and toughness. It is general practice not to exceed the elongation as
determined by the tension testing in forming a part from the same metal. Table-5.1.2 shows a
comparison of formability of some metals, using annealed aluminium as a basis.

Table- 5.1.2 Formability of different materials by explosive forming

Material Formability
Aluminum

Copper

1010 Steel

5 % Cr Steel

Inconel X-750

% Scale 0 20 40 60 80 100

Advantages of Explosion Forming

 If properly controlled, it can maintain tolerances.

 It eliminates costly welds.
 It can control the smoothness of contours.
 It reduces tooling costs.
 It is a less expensive alternative to super-plastic forming.

Limitations:
 The process has high initial cost due to special equipment, dies and energy used.
 In general, HERF is restricted to few materials.
 The die material should be strong enough to withstand the sudden shocks.
 Explosives used can be tremendously hazardous if the reactions are not controlled or
handled properly.
 The surface finish and tolerances are not very high.