Forming (metalworking)

Forming in metalworking is like playing with playdough or clay, but with metal.

Imagine you have a piece of metal, like a flat sheet or a tube. If you want to change its shape or create a new object, you need to use different techniques of forming.

One way is called bending, where you gradually apply pressure to the metal until it starts to curve or angle in the direction you want. This can be done by hand or with a machine like a press brake.

Another way is called punching, where you make a hole in the metal by forcibly pushing a shaped tool, called a punch, against it. This can create shapes like circles, rectangles or even intricate designs.

Yet another method is called rolling, where you pass the metal through a set of mechanical rollers that squeeze it until it becomes thinner or takes on a new shape. This is how you can get metal pipes or sheets of uniform thickness.

Other forming techniques include forging, where you heat the metal and shape it with a hammer or press, and casting, where you pour the metal into a mold to create complex shapes.

Overall, forming in metalworking is about taking a piece of metal and molding it into a new shape or object using different techniques, similar to playing with playdough or clay.