PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
SUPERPLASTIC FORMING
AFRC
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ENCOURAGE
SMALLER COMPANIES TO EMBRACE IT?
Craig Knowles, Senior Manufacturing
Engineer at the University of Strathclyde’s
Advanced Forming Research Centre. questions - where is this technology going
in the future, and what can be done to
encourage smaller companies to embrace it?
Superplastic forming (SPF) of sheet metal
is a niche technological process which
enables the manufacture of light weight
metallic components with highly-complex
geometries. Superplastic forming takes advantage of
a material phenomenon defined as strain
rate sensitivity. Strain rate sensitivity, in
conjunction with suitable grain structure
and material temperature requirements
allows for elongations of up to 1000% to
be achieved in traditionally difficult to form
alloys, such as Ti-6Al-4V. This allows for the
manufacture of complex shapes whilst
achieving a lightweight component such as
those required for the aerospace industry
and very intricate body panels on super
cars. The light weight is achieved through
manufacturing components from a single
sheet of material thus removing the need
for joining techniques; the use of multiple
sheets formed to create a hollow structure or
through the use of strong light weight alloys
which can achieve the required performance
with minimal weight.
Industrial ‘know-how’ has historically been
the tool of choice to define the superplastic
forming process but by using the most
up to date material testing, finite element
modelling and process methods, the
Advanced Forming Research Centre is able
to achieve optimal output. This approach is
resulting in the realisation of the ultimate
potential of the materials and overall process.
The Advanced Forming Research Centre
has a globally unique offering in SPF. No
other research facility in the world can rival
its capabilities with the process. This puts
us in a position of being able to pose – and
potentially answer – some of the tougher
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PECM Issue 38