Hot forming
Hot forming is similar to cold forming, but involves heating the active parts of the die used to form the part. It is done by putting the part in contact with the heated mold, while the hot punch descends into the mold and shapes the part, obtaining the final shape.
The active parts of the mold can be made in several ways::
– Heating the press table
– Heating using auxiliary plates mounted between the press and the active parts of the mold
– Integrated heating in the active parts, creating a serpentine type system for uniform heat distribution.
The most frequently used heating system is the one integrated in the active parts, as can be seen in the picture, having the advantage of offering the best heating efficiency.
For each mold, the working temperature is set according to the material of the formed part and can vary from 20º C, in which case the part being formed is hot and it is desired to cool it, reaching up to 300ºC, in which case the part being formed is cold and it is desired to heat it for formation.
For heating the blocks can be used oil or steam, and water for cooling. Examples of hot-formed part materials: glass fiber, carbon fiber, woven textile material or in the form of fiber, resin, basalt fiber sandwich composite materials: carpet-foam-carpet, pressed cardboard-carpet, glass fiber and polypropylene (LWRT), EPDM-aluminum membrane, carpet-aluminum, etc.