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| General Questions |
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| Q. What is metal spinning? |
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- Metal is shaped over a mandrel or form (chuck) on an automatic or manual spinning lathe, using force and various tools.
- Spinning can create pans, bowls, cans, cones, convex/concave, neck downs, etc…
- It takes a very skilled workman to correctly shape and finish a hand spun piece.
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| Q. What are the advantages of spinning? |
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- Several operations can be performed in one set-up.
- Forming parameters and part geometry can be altered quickly, at less cost than traditional metal forming techniques.
- Tooling costs are comparatively low
- Automation can be used in high volume production runs
- Creates less waste than other methods.
- Lead times are usually shorter than stamping.
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| Q. What impacts cost? |
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- Higher production volumes greatly impact the unit cost as it allows for automation and better distribution of set up costs.
- Specifying critical dimensions on the part allows IMS to design tooling and plan production to best fit the needs of the part. Many critical dimensions can have a negative impact on overall cost.
- Generous tolerances can eliminate steps such as trim. Cost can be driven up by the tendency to over tolerance parts.
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| Q. What is the difference in tooling? |
| A. |
Steel tooling |
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- longer life, larger runs, less wear (10k – 25k pieces)
- highest quality parts
- tighter corner radii
- higher cost up front
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Dynablock (wood composite) |
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- good shelf life
- does not warp or crack
- can deteriorate quickly on corner radii, beaded or other high pressure areas
- very good quality
- no ply marks like wood
- slightly more costly than wood
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Wood |
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- limited shelf life (2-3 years if used sparingly)
- used mainly for parts 40” diameter or larger
- tends to warp, crack and pop even when not in use
- good quality part on limited runs (100-500 pieces)
- ply marks can be seen on parts over time
- not recommended for small to middle sized parts
- lowest cost option
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| Q. How is material affected by spinning? |
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- Spinning requires O-temper and/or soft alloy materials
- Material will thin during spinning process
- Brass/stainless parts will not run the same as other materials (flare)
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| Q. What are some limitations of spinning? |
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- When utilizing existing tooling
- cannot change the physical characteristics of the spinning itself given the way tooling is cut/designed
- Minor changes in dimensions or configuration may mean that new tooling would be required
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| Q. How do holes affect the spinning process? |
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- A center hole is a plus
- simplifies spinning process
- reduces cost
- a change in hole size may mean that a tool/pin would need to be modifie
- More holes of different sizes in varying locations add to part costs
- Holes on walls of parts
- if needed, consider using a slotted hole versus a round hole if possible
- location of holes will also influence the difficulty of adding the holes
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