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Thread: Aluminum question

  1. 06-15-2011, 11:34 PM #1
    Sonnet
    Sonnet is offline Junior Member
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    Default Aluminum question

    Hello,
    I was hoping someone could expound on a question I had about aluminum.

    I understand there are different ways to form aluminum. The ways that come to mind are casting, machining, forging, extrusion, welding, & cutting.

    Q: Are there other ways aluminum is formed?
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  2. 06-15-2011, 11:55 PM #2
    doorknob
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    How about sintering powdered aluminum (maybe called MIM)?
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  3. 06-16-2011, 12:27 AM #3
    Evan
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    I don't recall seeing sintered aluminum parts. The problem there is that if exposed to oxygen at all, even for a moment , it forms an oxide coating that will prevent sintering from working. If the powder is made in a vacuum and kept away from oxygen it will cold weld so readily that it can't be made to flow reliably into a mold. Also, aluminum powder is extremely flammable. If fine enough it will explode spontaneously if dispersed in air.

    Aluminum is also formed by hydroforming and by explosive forming. It can also be friction stir welded. Variations on explosive forming include underwater arc forming. It may also be vacuum deposited in thin layers. It is also formed by basic mechanical bending, stamping and rolling.
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  4. 06-16-2011, 12:39 AM #4
    The Artful Bodger
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    Quote Originally Posted by Evan
    I don't recall seeing sintered aluminum parts. .
    I thought that was how Lotus treat their engine bores.
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  5. 06-16-2011, 12:43 AM #5
    Evan
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    Could be but I haven't heard of aluminum being used in powder metallurgy.
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  6. 06-16-2011, 02:46 AM #6
    Forrest Addy
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    Don't forget "billet"

    Seriously there's also rolling, sheet and plate processes like development: fabrication, spinning, drawing, HER processing, spray and plasma deposition - um - I'm out of bullets. Come to think of it these ae mostly post inititial form processing as in ingot onto sheet or plate, then fab, spinning etc.

    Nope. Dry hole here.
    Last edited by Forrest Addy; 06-16-2011 at 03:21 AM.
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  7. 06-16-2011, 02:54 AM #7
    alistair1537
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    And spinning!
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  8. 06-16-2011, 11:27 AM #8
    justanengineer
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    My favorite all time forming process is stamping. There is just something about seeing the giant presses slamming down that gets me going every time.
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  9. 06-16-2011, 11:50 AM #9
    goose
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    I like to crush Aluminum cans in my hand (manu-forming), or sometimes stomp them flat (pedi-forming).
    Gary


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  10. 06-16-2011, 12:25 PM #10
    flathead4
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    I like to crush Aluminum cans in my hand (manu-forming), or sometimes stomp them flat (pedi-forming).
    How about cranial-forming?
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