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Use
of Hydroforming & Spinning for Perfect Round Molds
Industry:
Manufacturing
Situation:
A major producer
of bowling balls approached Metalspun with a rather unique dilemma.
They required a mold to produce 8.8" diameter bowling balls.
They had tried other spinning houses that produced molds that were
inconsistent in size and out of round. These mold defects caused
the balls to have a rough appearance and necessitated costly secondary
finishing and polishing.
Solution:
By utilizing
a combination of hydroforming and spinning, Metalspun was able to
fabricate a 14 gauge, cold rolled steel mold. The main body of the
mold was hydroformed in two separate halves. Then, the two locking
flanges were spun. The final mold was so smooth it looked as if
it had been machined.
The precise,
accurate mold consistently produced uniform spherical shapes, with
close tolerances. Because the mold was so uniform throughout, the
customer realized significant cost savings due to the reduction
in secondary finishing.
Bottom Line:
The challenge
presented Metalspun by the bowling ball manufacturer to produce
a rounder, more consistently sized bowling ball mold was met and
overcome. By utilizing the unique combination of hydroforming and
spinning, the customer acquired the correct bowling ball mold for
their requirements. The added benefit of reduced production costs
gained through decreased secondary finishing was a welcome bonus.
Metalspun's cost-effective solution maximized material usage while
maintaining material integrity and efficiency. The unique combination
of hydroforming and spinning has been responsible for additional
jobs being directed to Metalspun.
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