Jones Metal Products Company® is fully capable of handling all hydroforming, deep draw stamping and heat-treating needs. As the largest hydroforming contract manufacturer in the industry, our experience ensures cost-efficiency, expert production and flawless finishes for our customers. We have the equipment for deep drawing hydroforming or Cincinnati hydroforming. Because of the unusual name, many people wonder: what is Cincinnati hydroforming and why is it called that?
In 1950, the Cincinnati Milling Machine Company made its first hydroforming machine intended for deep draw forming using a rubber diaphragm and oil pressure. Cincinnati Milling Machine Company’s blueprints changed hands, were sold to other manufacturing companies and were modified through the years, but the excellent original design has endured for more than half a century and the name “Cincinnati” has also been passed down. Today, we refer to the machines and the process as Cincinnati hydroforming out of homage to the original design and out of habit.
So again, whether you call it Cincinnati hydroforming, hydroforming or deep-draw hydroforming, what is this process? Walking through the process, a sheet of metal, or blank, is first placed on the blankholder ring for support. Above the blank is the forming chamber. As the chamber is lowered down, the fluid pressure is applied to form the exact shape desired. Once the top is stable, the punch drives upward and bends the metal to its chosen shape. The chamber and punch then return to the original position and the newly configured metal is complete.
This swift and smooth assembly is a sight to see. Cincinnati hydroforming machines are able to produce multiple parts on the same tooling by customizing the depth of draw and accepting various thicknesses of materials. This process has proven to be the most cost-effective method for small runs of parts and oddly shaped configurations. Jones Metal Products houses 11 Cincinnati Hydroforming machines that can handle up to 32-inch diameters and 12-inch depths. There are three 32-inch presses, four 25-inch presses, two 20-inch presses and two 15-inch presses working in our facilities.
Fluid-operated forming is precise and also has the advantage of leaving materials unblemished. By reducing waste and cost, Jones Metal Products always seeks to find the best procedure for your production needs. Now that you know what Cincinnati hydroforming is, contact us today for more information about how the process can be a cost-effective way to produce the metal parts you need.
Check out our latest video featuring
a deep dive on hydroforming by Jones Metal Products.
Related Links