Elasticity straightening, also known as cold straightening, is the process of applying force to shape and form materials. It involves applying an external force to a material in order to cause it to permanently deform and move towards a desired straightened shape. This process is used in a variety of industries such as aerospace, automotive, industrial manufacturing and machine shops.
The forces used in elasticity straightening are mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic. Mechanical forces include rolling, hammering and pressing. Hydraulic forces involve a flow of a liquid under pressure to move the material in the direction of the flow. Pneumatic forces use pressurized air to move material. The choice of force used often depends on the material, its properties and the shape desired.
For most materials, some combination of these methods is used in order to achieve the desired straightened shape. The application of force must be done in a gradual, even manner in order to prevent undesired deformations or failure of the material. This can be done by applying different pressures at different points on the material or by slowly increasing the force over time.
Material must also be conditioned prior to straightening in order to minimize the risk of failure. This can be done with a variety of techniques such as annealing and normalizing. Annealing involves heating the material to a temperature just below its recrystallization temperature in order to reduce its brittleness and make it more malleable. Normalizing is similar to annealing except the rate of heating and cooling is much faster.
In light of the forces being applied during straightening, materials must be carefully evaluated before the process is started. Materials should be inspected for flaws and weaknesses in order to minimize the chances of failure during the straightening process. The yield strength of the material should also be determined in order to ensure that the material can handle the forces being applied.
Elasticity straightening is a useful and effective technique for a variety of applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, industrial manufacturing and machine shops. If the correct preparation and application of force is done correctly and safely, the desired straightened shape can be achieved. The choice of force used and the technique chosen depends largely on the material being worked with and the desired shape.
