Hydroforming and Spinning 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.