This is one of four spinning’s that we are manufacturing for one of our international customers.
Artec Engineering are often tasked with manufacturing parts that are demanding and more complex than the average metal spinning.
This part in particular required our extensive knowledge in metal spinning and fabrication to ensure that we meet all of the drawing specifications.
To manufacture this part, there were several manufacturing processes.
The first stage of manufacture was the tooling.
Tooling
Due to the size of the spinning, this required a cast tool to be manufactured, as opposed to being machined from a solid billet.
Using a cast tool compared to a solid steel billet tool enables the weight of the tooling to be reduced and can therefore be accommodated on the spinning lathe.
Here you can see the cast tool for the 1200 dia. aluminium spinning, which has 5 hollow sections and to reduce the overall weight.
When the cast tool is first produced, it is oversized, so it can then be machined the to the required dimensions.
This process is all completed in house by on of our master toolmakers.
Metal Spinning
The large semi-automatic spinning lathe was used to spin this part, due to the 4.0mm thickness of the aluminium and the pressure that can be applied to using the rollers.
Here you can see one of our expert metal spinners, apply controlled pressure to the material for the first spinning draft.
This 1200 dia. spinning has two separate spinning operations to form the outer form and then the internal form.
A 700mm dia. centre hole was then cut from the 1200 dia. spinning, and the edges deburred.
Welding & Fabrication
Following the spinning process, our specialist welder then stitch welded a rolled 50 x 5mm band around the circumference on the inside of the 1200 dia. spinning.
This process required marking out and ensuring that stitch welds were evenly spaced out around the circumference of the band.
To join the two halves, a 30mm x 5mm was rolled and stitch welded to the longitudinal curve of the spinning.
Once all the welding was completed, one of our machinists then drilled and countersunk 20 x 8mm holes around the circumference.
The final stage of the manufacturing process involved cutting the 1200 dia. spinning in half to form two spinning’s.
Overall, the manufacture of this part was very involved and required a range of different processes to make to drawing.
Having the capability to complete all metal spinning, fabrication, welding, machining and fabrication in house, we can ensure that the quality of the parts meets the required high standards we pride ourselves on and the lead time is reduced.
