Slide ✓ Advanced manufacturing facility
✓ Professional DFM
✓ No MOQ
✓ ISO 9001:2015 certified GET A QUOTE SUPERPLASTIC FORMING HOT FORMING

Inodus has partnered with advanced manufacturing facilities to offer you hot forming and superplastic forming services with no MOQ.

 

This highly technical process requires a meticulous DFM process. Our partners are well equipped with a range of simulation software including Deform, Dynaform, Abaques, Adams, Solidworks and ANSYS.

 

On top of various forming services, advanced post-processing technologies are also available for your project’s needs. These include diffusion welding, Laser Beam Welding (LBW) and Electron Beam Welding (EBW).

Hot forming / Superplastic forming capability overview

HOT forming Superplastic forming (SPF)
Maximum part size
3000 x 2000 mm
Larger size upon request
3000 x 2000 mm
Larger size upon request
Maximum pressure 20,000 kN 20,000 kN
Maximum temperature 1000°C 1000°C
Typical lead time 4 weeks 4 weeks
Standard tolerance ±0.1~0.3 mm ±0.1~0.3 mm

Difference between hot forming and superplastic forming

Superplastic forming (SPF) involves multiple heating stages to promote material’s superplasticity, such as 900°C for Ti6Al4V or 450–520 °C for aluminium 5083. In this state the material becomes soft so processes that usually used on plastics can be applied (e.g., vacuum forming and thermoforming). Inert gas pressure is applied on the superplastic sheet.

 

SPF process can form large and complex workpieces in one operation, the finished product has excellent prevision and a fine surface finish, and does not suffer from springback or residual stresses. However, due to the complexity of the process the forming process is much slower than standard hot forming, and more expensive.

 

Hot forming on the other hand provides a lower cost alternative to SPF. A thinner starting sheet thickness is possible, forming times are much shorter.

Available materials for hot forming and superplastic forming

Types
Aluminium alloys
Titanium alloys
Magnesium alloys
Superalloy

Post-processing service for hot forming and superplastic forming

Service
CNC machining
Anodizing
Plating
Powder coating
Part marking
Polishing
Brushing
Plasma welding
Fabrication
Other finishes upon request

Advanced post-processing service

* Those processes are common in aerospace industry

DIFFUSSION WELDING LASER BEAM WELDING (LBW) ELECTRON BEAM WELDING (EBW)
Applicable dimension N/A Up to 6000mm (Length) Up to 6000mm (Length) & Φ1500mm (diameter)
Extra lead time   2 weeks 2 weeks
Tolerance (Robot repeated positioning accuracy)   ±0.05 mm ±0.05 mm
Suitable material
Titanium alloy
Aluminium alloy
Nickel alloy
Titanium alloy
Stainless steel 304 & 316
Inconel
Titanium alloy
Stainless steel 304 & 316
Inconel

Frequently asked questions

What thickness should I designed for the forming process

Typical material thickness range from 0.5 – 2.5mm

What’s the difference between EBW and LBW?

Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Laser Beam Welding (LBW) and are both fusion welding techniques that use a high energy density beam to melt the joint of two components. Both methods have fast cycle times and produce high weld quality. They are similar and can be used side-by-side in some circumstances, but they are not identical.

 

To impinge on the weld joint and produce coalescence, EBW utilizes a moving concentrated beam of high-velocity electrons, while LBW utilizes the heat from a high-density coherent laser beam.

 

EBW generally needs to be performed in a vacuum environment without the use of shielding gas, which provides excellent protection against atmospheric contamination.  LBW is normally performed with argon or helium shielding gases to prevent oxidation of the molten weld pool.

Get your parts into production

Collaborate with us today

GET A QUOTE