Stainless sheet forming

[mattman0o0o]

Does anyone know if you could use a set of dies and press baffles similar to this guy,

http://youtu.be/c1b6mthrUJc

But using 17-4ph annealed sheet? Then after they were shaped heat them up to 900 for heat treating.

Thanks,
Matt

[propeine]

Does anyone know if you could use a set of dies and press baffles similar to this guy,

http://youtu.be/c1b6mthrUJc

But using 17-4ph annealed sheet? Then after they were shaped heat them up to 900 for heat treating.

Thanks,
Matt

I've been trying to figure out the same thing for hydroforming titanium. Even in the annealed state 17-4 has 160ksi ultimate strength and 145ksi yield. I think you might have some difficulty with it unless you have access to a large press. 17-4 is similar in mechanical properties to grade 5 titanium so I'm curious as to anyone elses answer.

The material he's using is ~30ksi yield for comparison btw.

[mattman0o0o]

I'm thinking more along the lines of a 20 ton shop press, not a bench vice and cheater bar. Is the 165,000 psi measured on a 1" thick piece of material, where as bending for example a .1" piece of sheet you're working on 1/10th of 165k? I'm not sure how all that works out.

[Rich V]

See page 13 on forming.
http://www.aksteel.com/pdf/markets_prod ... 201404.pdf

Deep drawing at RT may be a challenge.

[propeine]

I'm thinking more along the lines of a 20 ton shop press, not a bench vice and cheater bar. Is the 165,000 psi measured on a 1" thick piece of material, where as bending for example a .1" piece of sheet you're working on 1/10th of 165k? I'm not sure how all that works out.

Unfortunately it isn't that simple. Suffice to say that I don't think a 20 ton shop press is going to do it either. I'm trying to figure out the calculations again myself. College was quite a few years ago and I don't remember the equations for deep drawing. Plus what Rich V posted about cracks down the road has some merit although it appears that in the 900 state there were no failures.

[Bendersquint]

Does anyone know if you could use a set of dies and press baffles similar to this guy,

http://youtu.be/c1b6mthrUJc

But using 17-4ph annealed sheet? Then after they were shaped heat them up to 900 for heat treating.

Thanks,
Matt

Good luck and post a video of the attempt.

(I'll save you the video time, you should seek a different material.)

[mattman0o0o]

That's all I needed to know, I won't even waste my gopro battery on it let alone money buying materials. Do you have any sources to look at for stainless sheets that are good to form? I've seen people shaping the SS freeze plugs. I just wanted to try and do something different than a freeze plug.

[Wicked]

Quitter. Don't give up just yet. You have not exhausted all possible resources.

There is another method. It's cheap, and it works great. No need for an expensive die set or punch press to form baffles from sheet stock, stainless or otherwise. The process work hardens the material and in some cases, no further treatment may be required.

I formed the baffles for my first suppressor by 'spinning' them. Google: metal spinning. Then search for my F1 5.56mm build here.

For the few baffles you'll require, have them spun. A simple wood or aluminum male form is all that's required. Want a different shape? Just turn up a new form. That's it, and someone who has the right equipment and skills to do it. Or take the plunge and try it yourself. The equipment can be improvised from common shop items and a few hours time playing with it. Warning: not as easy as it looks in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-biLfru-c

It's a 'lost art' for sure. Brutal beasts forming beautiful works of art with bronze age tools.

[KML]

Quitter. Don't give up just yet. You have not exhausted all possible resources.

There is another method. It's cheap, and it works great. No need for an expensive die set or punch press to form baffles from sheet stock, stainless or otherwise. The process work hardens the material and in some cases, no further treatment may be required.

I formed the baffles for my first suppressor by 'spinning' them. Google: metal spinning. Then search for my F1 5.56mm build here.

For the few baffles you'll require, have them spun. A simple wood or aluminum male form is all that's required. Want a different shape? Just turn up a new form. That's it, and someone who has the right equipment and skills to do it. Or take the plunge and try it yourself. The equipment can be improvised from common shop items and a few hours time playing with it. Warning: not as easy as it looks in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-biLfru-c

It's a 'lost art' for sure. Brutal beasts forming beautiful works of art with bronze age tools.

Thanks for posting that!
Very interesting! I think I may have to try some (smaller scale) metal spinning. Looks like a handy skill to have. I've been playing with hydro-forming but it has limitations and this may fill that gap.

A miniature English wheel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_wheel could be an option. Not much to them so it wouldn't be impossible to make a small one. They have the benefit of not needing to spin the material, which I assume is a barrier to many that are looking at forming sheet baffles in the first place. I have no idea if it's suitable for 17-4 though.

By the way - "Brutal beasts forming beautiful works of art with bronze age tools" is one of the best sentences I've read in some time. Not all artists gently coax their subject out of paint or clay. Some with callused hands and a rough exterior use skilled and controlled, yet still brutal, force to free some of the most beautiful objects I've ever seen from their medium. Your sentence captures the irony of, say a blacksmith, wonderfully.

[propeine]

Quitter. Don't give up just yet. You have not exhausted all possible resources.

There is another method. It's cheap, and it works great. No need for an expensive die set or punch press to form baffles from sheet stock, stainless or otherwise. The process work hardens the material and in some cases, no further treatment may be required.

I formed the baffles for my first suppressor by 'spinning' them. Google: metal spinning. Then search for my F1 5.56mm build here.

For the few baffles you'll require, have them spun. A simple wood or aluminum male form is all that's required. Want a different shape? Just turn up a new form. That's it, and someone who has the right equipment and skills to do it. Or take the plunge and try it yourself. The equipment can be improvised from common shop items and a few hours time playing with it. Warning: not as easy as it looks in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-biLfru-c

It's a 'lost art' for sure. Brutal beasts forming beautiful works of art with bronze age tools.

Thanks for posting that!
Very interesting! I think I may have to try some (smaller scale) metal spinning. Looks like a handy skill to have. I've been playing with hydro-forming but it has limitations and this may fill that gap.

A miniature English wheel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_wheel could be an option. Not much to them so it wouldn't be impossible to make a small one. They have the benefit of not needing to spin the material, which I assume is a barrier to many that are looking at forming sheet baffles in the first place. I have no idea if it's suitable for 17-4 though.

By the way - "Brutal beasts forming beautiful works of art with bronze age tools" is one of the best sentences I've read in some time. Not all artists gently coax their subject out of paint or clay. Some with callused hands and a rough exterior use skilled and controlled, yet still brutal, force to free some of the most beautiful objects I've ever seen from their medium. Your sentence captures the irony of, say a blacksmith, wonderfully.

You should share your hydroforming endeavors somewhere. I would be very interested to see them. Could always try explosive forming...

[john.t.little1]

An OBI press would work best I have been looking into this for awhile now

[propeine]

An OBI press would work best I have been looking into this for awhile now

You better make sure your tonnage calculations are right. Nothing like a big old mechanical press without enough umph to complete its stroke. Give me a hydraulic any day. Something about have 100 tons loaded up with nowhere for the energy to go just doesn't sit well with me.

[mattman0o0o]

I'd seen that video on metal spinning before I just forgot about it. I may go to the local metal shop and get a small sheet of 304ss and try and rig something up. My biggest issue is lack of metallurgy knowledge on which metals are able to be used in forming / spinning.

[john.t.little1]

I'm sure 75 ton obi would get the job done but one would consult a die maker to be sure.

[john.t.little1]

You don't get the rapid heat up with hyd like you will with a obi

[Capt. Link.]

You don't get the rapid heat up with hyd like you will with a obi

A basic drop hammer will do the same job a OBI will.That could be made a whole bunch of simple ways.I would strongly recommend that the punch and dies are heat treated and that you stand behind something stout before you trip the hammer.