Metal working – a brief overview of methods
Metal working is nothing but a collection of methods, processes and techniques to change the shape, size, and often the physical and chemical properties of this kind of raw materials. Essentially, a distinction is made between few basic technological processes. Below we look at the most of them.
Plastic metal forming
Plastic metal forming is distinguished by the fact that changes made on the metal or in its structure, the physical and chemical properties, as well as in shape and form are made by plastic deformation. These deformations can be cold (the changes in the raw material are achieved at temperatures lower than the recrystallization temperature) or hot (the temperature is higher than the recrystallization temperature).
In the field of plastic processing of metals, we set apart:
Bending of metal
In this case, the metal working is executed in cold or afters its heating. Sheet metal bending occurs in the form of folding, profiling, curving, bending, as well as in the form of forging bending.
Bending of metal is a machining process designed to achieve a permanent change in the curvature of the material, however, while maintainings its transverse size.
Metal stamping
This type of treatment can be carried out both in the cold, and hot. In this case, the desired shape is achieved by cutting the sheet metal, including their slicing, cutting, punching, notching or deburring. Metal stamping is also the art of their shaping without violating their consistency, carried out mostly on a specially adapted presses.
Drawing of metals
Metal forging
Forging is carried out both in the cold and hot, hand and machine, relying on obtaining the desired shape through the crushing material with impact or pressure.
In this case, change of the shape of the starting material shall be effected by impact on rolling mill metal and press brakes. Having regard to the temperature criterion, rolling can be carried out by the cold, warm or hot.
Mechanical metal machining
Turning, grinding, milling and planing – the basic methods in a group of mechanical treatment of metal cutting operations. In this case, change of the shape, sizes, and surface quality of the material is made by partial metal removal using cutting tools.
Heat treatment of metals (thermal)
Heat treatment as well as thermo-chemical allows you to change the properties of the physical, chemical and mechanical materials (usually stainless steel) by changing the structure of alloys.
