Shaping Techniques Flashcards
What are milling machines used for?
Milling machines remove one layer of material at a time to produce the size or shape necessary for a product. They can be used to create very flat and accurate surfaces.
What are lathes used for?
Lathes are used to turn materials, such as wood or metal, to create items like spindles or wheels. A piece of material is secured to the lathe which is then turned, and a tool is used to remove material to create the desired shape.
What is 3D Printing used for?
3D Printing uses CAD files to create models out of filament, which is melted and applied where necessary. The process works by printing one layer of filament at a time, which builds up to be a 3D item.
What is Press Forming used for?
Press forming is where a sheet of metal is pressed between two shaped metal parts to create items that can be large but thin, such as panels on a car. Metal sheets are hydraulically pressed between two pieces called punches and dies.
What is Casting used for?
Casting is where a molten material is poured into a hollow mould, which is made of a box filled with moulding sand. The mould is created using a pattern, which is an exact copy of the part, which is made out of wood or clay. After the material cools into a solid, the mould, which is often in two parts, is removed, leaving behind a finished item.
What is Die Casting used for?
Die casting is used to form materials such as metals and certain plastics. The liquid material is poured into a die, which is the shape of the item being created. Once the material has cooled, the die is removed and the finished item can be cleaned up.
What is laminating used for?
Laminating is when thin sheets of metal are glued together and are placed into a jig so they can be bent. The wood strips are left in the jig until the glue dries, and once taken out, should be bent to the shape of the jig.
What is Line Bending used for?
Line bending is used to shape sheets of acrylic for making things such as picture frames. This can be done using a strip heater, when the plastic is heated and then bent, or by using a line bender.
How are Formers used to shape materials?
Formers, or jigs, are used to bend strips of metal. Thinner strips can be easily bent while cold, while thicker pieces of metal will have to be heated or annealed before they are bent, which makes it easier to bend them, although bending hot metals can cool them down quickly.
