Forming and Pressing Technology: Lubrication in Precision Cold Working Processes
Forming and pressing technology involves the cold-working of metals using press tools in order to create products with specific shapes and sizes. This is typically done by a variety of methods, such as stamping, bending and drawing depending on the desired application. These processes use mechanical force to push, pull and/or shape the metal into the final form required.
Precision cold working processes require a high level of care and attention in order to get the best result for the product. Such processes, for example, include deep drawing – the pressing of a material into a usable product form with a die – and are often used in the fabrication of parts in a variety of industries.
These processes require a lot of energy, and heat is generated as a result of this strain on the material. Good lubrication is essential in order to reduce wear on the tooling, and also to provide additional support to the product while undergoing the process. Inadequate lubrication can cause all sorts of issues, including poor surface finish, poor product strength and dimensional accuracy, reduced tool life and premature failure of the components being worked on.
A range of lubricants can be used in the forming and pressing process, with the most commonly used being synthetic oils and greases. These lubricants form a protective barrier between the metal surfaces and are designed to reduce friction, improve surface finish and protect the metal from corrosion.
The choice of lubricant will depend on several factors, including the type of press tool being used, the speed at which the press is operating and the size of the product being formed. These lubricants need to be chosen carefully to ensure that they meet the necessary criteria for the process, such as providing adequate lubrication, reducing heat build-up and enabling short cycle times.
In order to further reduce heat generated when forming and pressing, a cooling system can also be used. This cooling system will help to ensure that the metal does not become too hot during the process and can help to improve the end result. Such cooling systems are typically used in combination with lubricants in order to provide the best support to the product during the forming process.
Overall, the use of good lubricants in conjunction with effective cooling systems is essential in order to ensure good quality forming and pressing processes. Good lubricants can help to reduce wear on tooling, as well as to reduce heat build-up and improve surface finish on the parts produced. Cooling systems can also help to keep the metal in the best possible condition during the pressing process, ensuring that the end product meets the necessary criteria. This will ultimately help to reduce costs and improve both the efficiency and quality of the processes used.
