Die Making For Aluminum Sheet Metal

The sheet metal takes the form of the design cut into the die.

Die making for aluminum sheet metal.

Forming dies were typically made by tool and die makers and put into production after mounting into a press the die was a metal block that was used for forming materials like sheet metal and plastic for the vacuum forming of plastic sheet only a single form was used typically to form transparent plastic containers called blister packs for merchandise. Ironing is the basic process used to make beverage cans seefigure 2. In both sheet metal is sunk or pressed into a die. Hydraulic die forming is quicker and lends itself more to duplicating formed art or other production.

Hydraulic die forming is somewhat similar to masonite die forming. When aluminum is ironed it almost compressively flows like a hot liquid down the wall of the die cavity and punch and it shines to a mirrorlike surface finish. The main difference is that a restrike die is used after most of the major forming already has been performed. 019 aluminum sheet not sure what series of aluminum it is but the label on the box said that it was some sort of photosensitive aluminum i used about 4 x24 of the sheet for this project.

The restrike die operation fundamentally is a solid forming operation. It increases the metal sheet s surface area by squeezing the metal rather than exposing it to tension. 2 75 diameter steel round bar mild steel i used a length of about 2 3 total approximately 1 5 per side of the die. The kicker with this build is that there is no fluid at least not until the 40 000 pound hydraulic press semi liquifies the thick neoprene rubber pad placed over the sheet metal blank and die.