Metal spinning is a technique for creating rotationally symmetrical sheet metal pieces. The sheet metal discs spin while being shaped into hollow, rotationally symmetrical shapes. The spinning machine’s main drive rotates the blank, fixed between its shaped spinning mandrel and tailstock. Together, the mandrel and metal disc come into contact with the workpiece’s outer face through the spinning roller. The workpiece will take shape as the roller gradually shapes the material over predetermined passes. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Charles H. Schillinger Company
Bensalem, PA | 888-245-1912Our CNC spinning equipment are fully automated machines and capable of sheet metal spinning, trimming and beading all in one process. Copper spinning and aluminum spinning symmetrically round items is what we do most. Stainless Steel spinning is very popular for the pharmaceutical and food service parts we make. If you need to produce a symmetrical metal part without seams and with minimal tooling costs, metal spinning is a great option. please contact us—our qualified staff is available to answer any questions.
Floturn, Inc.
Fairfield, OH | 513-860-8040Floturn's CNC metal spinning process can produce part-to-part consistency in shape & thickness. Diameters up to 60” can be processed & thicknesses up to ¼” are possible depending on alloy type. Materials we use include titanium, copper, aluminum, stainless steel & others. We are able to provide various spun metal shapes and our engineers can assist with design. Call us today for more information.
Toledo Metal Spinning Company
Toledo, OH | 419-214-3245Toledo Metal Spinning specializes in metal spinning and metal spinners to serve various industries. Serving the industry since 1929, we have been providing stainless steel metal spinning, aluminum metal spinning and metal spinnings of many exotic materials. Check out our website for more information. We look forward to working with you!
Hi-Craft Metal Products, Inc.
Gardena, CA | 310-323-6949Since 1955, Hi-Craft capabilities have expanded from simple metal-spinning jobs to include deep drawing, hydroforming, stamping, CNC spinning, trimming and beading. New technology and intentional innovation allows Hi-Craft to create and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with their customers. Technical expertise and versatility has made Hi-Craft stand out in the metalworking industry.
Globe Engineering Company, Inc.
Wichita, KS | 316-943-1266Globe Engineering manufactures what other job shops find difficult. For nearly 50 years, Globe has specialized in the fabrication of precision parts for the aircraft and aerospace industry. Using hydroforming, metal spinning, tube bending, machining, heat treating and welding, Globe produces high quality components in aluminum, stainless steel, inconel and titanium; always to exact specifications.
Sheet metal spinning can create many hollow components without sacrificing important advantages of metal shaping. In addition, the same metal spinning may integrate other processes. Metal spinning can also be referred to as metal forming.
How Metal Spinning Functions
Spinning is a fairly easy operation. First, a formed block is installed in a lathe's drive section—a pressure pad attached to the tailstock clamps a pre-sized metal disk against the block. The workpiece and block are then both rapidly turned together. The workpiece is then subjected to a localized force that moves over the block. A variety of lever tools are used to apply the force. Simple workpieces can be taken out of the block; however, more complicated designs need a multi-piece block. It is possible to spin intricate designs over ice formations, which melt away after spinning.
Types of Sheet Metal Spinning
Hot Spinning
During hot spinning, a heating torch raises the workpiece's temperature to the forging temperature. The workpiece is forced over the mandrel while the heating torch is pointed at it. This process is best when the material has poor ductility, or the metal sheet is too difficult to deform at room temperature. Any sheet metal can be spun at room temperature, often known as "cold spinning." The workpiece is already deformed due to its plastic condition, hot spinning causes significant distortion and refines the grain structure, which leads to better physical qualities like higher strength. But the metal that has been heated quickly oxidizes. The entire process is more expensive and challenging to manage.
Shear spinning
Shear spinning is also known as ‘power spinning’. When shear spinning, the workpiece slides along the mandrel's contour under the force of the rollers. Although the final part's material thickness is lower than in its initial blank form, its diameter doesn't change. Additionally, the work piece's depth rises. Since the workpiece is subjected to stronger compressive forces, its mechanical characteristics, are improved. Shear spinning influences the component's dimensional accuracy and surface finish, necessitating a more robust tooling design and accurate machining control. More friction is applied to the workpiece, which wears down the mandrel. Since this procedure produces a lot of heat, coolant is required.
Tube Spinning
A type of shear spinning known as "tube spinning" is used to lengthen and thin out hollow cylindrical tubes. The tube is initially positioned into the mandrel and clamped. Then, three or more rollers positioned evenly around the tube are used to draw the tube over the length of the mandrel. The axial flow of material follows a path comparable to the path taken by the rollers. Either inside the mandrel or outside, tubes can be spun. The tube is stretched over the outside of the mandrel during external tube spinning. Internal tube spinning involves stretching and spinning the tube inside a hollow mandrel.
Benefits of Sheet Metal Spinning
- In comparison to forging, stamping, casting, etc., the metal spinning method is thought to use materials more sparingly and produces less waste.
- Low tooling costs are possible because tools can be made to last for as long as the job function for which they are intended.
- Sheet metal spinning is significantly less expensive than traditional casting and stamping because of how specific the tooling is.
- In keeping with the previous benefit, it is simple to make design changes, making selecting metal spinning significantly more affordable. The supplier frequently discovers that customers want to alter and shrink a component during product development. By lowering the Tool size internally, there is no need to start over, saving time and money.
- Sheet metal spinning can be done acts quickly. Small to medium batch numbers can be manufactured in a few days because of the short lead times.
- Multiple passes over the material during the metal spinning process are also advantageous. This is due to the materials produced being hardened.
