Hydroforming - The Coming Wave in Product Design

HYDROFORMING the coming wave in product design TUBE HOW IT WORKS HYDRO- FORMING (THF) 1 tube 2 seal 3 axial pressure 4 release In THF, a metal tube is SHEET inflated, and shaped, with pressurized water. In SHF, pistons shoot pressurized HYDRO- FORMING water into a sheet of metal (SHF) pressed into a mold. 1 sheet 2 water 3 pressure 4 release MATERIALS aluminum brass stainless steel DESIGN ELEMENTS DYNAMIC prganic 143M10 the seat of the diatom chair by ross lovegrove is hydroformed aluminum the hood, door, and body sides of the pontiac solstice are hydroformed steel BENEFITS LIMITATIONS SMOOTH FINISHES CLOSING FORCE eliminates draw marks created by traditional methods of high closing force creates some form limitations forming metal COMPLEX FORMS HIGH COST creates unconventional shapes costs run prohibitively high (for now) SIMPLIFIES reduces the number of steps (and the need for welds) HIGH VOLUME makes the most economical sense for high-quantity MANUFACTURING production runs CATEGORIES tech • high impact luxury bmw cruise m-bike oskar zieta chippensteel chair adobe ink & slide BRESSLER group