3 Fundamentals of press design

412 Hydroforming
On the basis of the various semi-finished product shapes (Fig. 5.2.8),
hydroforming can be applied to a wide variety of fields. Three main
user groups have emerged as the most significant over recent years
(Table 5.2.1):
– the automotive engineering and supply industry,
– sanitary and domestic installation industry,
– pipe and pipe component manufacturers.
Table 5.2.1: Fields of application for the hydroforming technique
Sector
automotive industry
vehicles
– road
– water
– air
– rail
chemical, gas, oil industry,
power station construction
domestic appliance industry
bicycle industry
processing of sections
pumps and fittings
heating, ventilation,
air conditioning
furniture industry
lighting industry
optics
Assembly
chassis, exhaust and intake
systems, add-on parts,
drive system, seats,
frames/bodywork,
steering
piping and tank components,
pipe fittings
fittings, machines
pipe fittings
frame construction, semifinished
pipes, rail-bound
vehicles, utility vehicles
housings
fittings
frames, moulded elements
street lighting
telescopes, torches
Metal Forming Handbook / Schuler (c) Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998
Component (examples)
cross members, side members,
manifolds, roof rails, spoilers,
gear shafts, seat frame components,
A/B/C pillars,
roof frame profiles, steering
column with compensation
T-fittings, reducers,
housings, panelling
tube bends, T-fittings,
reducers, cross pieces,
bends
pedal bearings, joints, frames
joints, girders,
calibrated tubes, sections,
roof arches, frames,
structural members
intake pipes
tube bends, reducers,
T-fittings, manifolds
legs, structural members,
joints, shells, shelves
light masts, lamp shells
housings