Formative Fabrication

Forming processes make use of stresses like compression, tension, shear, or some combination to cause the plastic deformation of a material into a desired shape. This manufacturing process is typically for plastics and metals.

No material is added or subtracted in this process. The workpiece is only deformed or displaced. Linear materials such as steel tube, pipe, or rod, and sheet materials such as steel plate or thermoplastic can be bent, curved, sliced, embossed, or deformed into shape through the application of external pressure and/or heat. Such transformation requires tools that can bend, fold, or deform using molds, punches, stamping dies, or bending tools. Material consumption is greatest in this process when molds are used.

Tools

INJECTION MOLDING

Injection molding is a process in which molten material is injected into an interior mold. When the material cools and hardens it takes the formal configuration of the cavity. Rotomolds…

ROTOMOLDING

Rotomolding, or rotational molding, is a process where raw material (usually in powder form) is injected into a heated, hollow mold. The mold slowly rotates on one or more axes…

SINGLE POINT FORMING (S.P.F.)

S.P.F. (single point forming) is a process where sheet material is incrementally dented into a desired three dimensional shape, usually by a round-tipped tool. This is the CNC equivalent to…

VACUUM FORMER

Vacuum forming is a method of thermoforming. Sheet material (typically plastic) is placed in frame within the vacuum former and heated until malleable. Once the plastic has a desirable amount…

CNC TUBE BENDER

A CNC Tube Bender is a computer controlled machine that can create a series of complex curved bends in pipe material. This tool is capable of bending pipe in a…

CNC ROLLER

A CNC Roller is a computer controlled machine that can create specific curved bends in sheet and stock material. It is comprised of 3-4 rollers. Rollers can be repositions. The…

CNC PUNCH PRESS

A CNC Punch Press is a computer controlled machine that uses pre-formed dies to punch specific shapes out of sheet material (usually sheet metal). These machines can generate single cuts…

CNC PRESS BRAKE

A CNC Press Brake is a computer controlled machine used to perform bending operations on sheet material (usually sheet metal). It can be configured to do a sequence of bends…