Deep drawing, or hydroforming, is a sheet metal forming process in which a sheet metal blank is radially drawn into a forming die by the mechanical action of a punch. It is thus a shape transformation process with material retention. The process is considered “deep drawing” when the depth of the drawn part exceeds its diameter.
In the Quintus denomination of deep drawing a flat sheet metal blank is formed over a rigid, shape defining, movable tool half, pushed against a flexible rubber diaphragm, which is supported by a uniform hydrostatic oil pressure.
The process results in scratch-free parts regardless of the sheet thickness or complexity of the tool, including undercuts. High forming pressure ensures close tolerance parts direct from the press with little or no secondary hand work required.
The QUINTUS Deep Draw Presses are the most versatile of the Quintus Flexform presses in terms of forming capabilities. Not only can they form the same kind of parts as Flexform fluid cell presses, but also complex and deep parts which require deep drawing with the movable punch function. This is performed with the rigid tool half – a movable punch and blank holder – and by controlling the forming pressure as a function of the draw depth. A circular Flexform unit contains the flexible rubber diaphragm.
The Quintus high pressure Flexform deep draw process, also named hydroforming, has been used for decades by such industry leaders as Boeing, F&B, GKN Aero,
Pratt & Whitney, Siemens, Whitcraft and many, many others. Users report great part quality, elimination of labor hours, formability of irregular part shapes and low tooling costs vs. for example hydraulic stamping dies.