Further development on tube hydroforming

Abstract

Tube hydroforming is a technology of manufacturing tubular products, in which a tube set in a die is deformed by internal high pressure and axial feeding from both ends of the tube in accordance with the die shape. The origin of tube hydroforming is T-forming, by which a branch is formed in a tube by hydraulic bulging. It has been used for manufacturing small parts such as fittings for piping, bicycle frames, and bellows. Today, tube hydroforming has become highly advanced in combination with computer technology, and it has become possible to form consolidated lightweight high-rigidity hollow parts with complicated cross sections. Products are applied to automotive parts or structural components that require weight reduction. The weight reduction of automobiles improves their fuel consumption, conserves resources and energy, and reduces the CO2 content in the exhaust gas. Tube hydroforming is therefore an important technology in preventing global warming. This paper describes briefly the practical innovation of tube hydroforming technology in Japan.