An Overview on Sheet Metal Hydroforming Technologies

Abstract

The hydroforming process is a nonconventional method for producing sheet metal deep drawing pieces, under the direct or indirect action of a high pressure fluid on the inner or outer side of work piece wall. This process it`s known since the 1900s and it has continuously developed, being today a field of research in the universities from country and abroad. The design of the hydroforming process can be done according to empirical, analytical and numerical methods to obtain high precision of the hydroforming piece and to ensure a large deformation of the material. The hydroforming parts can be used in various fields such as the automotive, aircraft and aerospace industries, having relatively low costs compared to parts obtained by other types of processing such as rolling, forging or stamping. The paper gives an overview regarding the sheet metal hydroforming processes, methods and the equipment used, as well as the process limits and defects that can occur during hydroforming.