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Super Plastic Forming Tools

SUPER PLASTIC FORMING

Duraloy manufactures products for the specialty super plastic forming market. Super plastic forming is a process that allows very complex shapes with many compound and/or complex angles to be shaped. Typical parts supplied are platens, keys, platen bolts and "T-Bars".

SUPER PLASTIC FORMING TOOLS

TYPICAL ALLOYS USED

For information on these alloys, please e-mail Duraloy by clicking HERE.

		high temperature presses High temperature presses are part of a larger overall forming system which are used to form alloy sheet into complex shapes. In some cases, this process requires the forming to be done in highly controlled environments. And in all cases,  the process must be very highly controlled in regard to temperature. As a result, the platens have very tight dimensional tolerances and very high quality requirements. All of Duraloy's platens meet the highest levels of internal and surface quality standards.
		PRESS PLATENS Press platens are used to stabilize and support the forming die during the forming process. When finished and ready for installation in the press, platens have several large and several small diameter holes "deep hole" drilled through the length of the platen to allow heating coils and thermocouples to be inserted to heat the platen and monitor the process. They also have channels machined into the top surface to alloy for the "T-Bars" to be inserted to secure the die to the platen. In many applications, the materials selected for the platens must have a low coefficient of thermal expansion to insure that the dies do not move during heat up and cool down. Duraloy can supply these platens fully machined to print or in the as-cast condition for others to machine.
		PRESS PLATEN BOLTS These statically cast bolts are typically supplied as cast to the fabricator. The bolts are then machined and threaded to be mated up with a high alloy "nut" and are used to bolt the platen to the base of the press. Pictured are as cast bolts, ready to be sent to the fabricator for machining.
		T-BARS T-Bars are used to secure the forming die to the platens during the forming process. The head of the "T" is inserted into the grooves machined into the surface of the platen and the bottom of the "T" is inserted into holes in the forming die. The die is then secured to the platen. Typically, the T-Bars are made from the same material as the platens and bolts to insure that the coefficient of thermal expansion is the same for all of the parts.
		PLATEN KEYS Platen keys, made from material that matches the alloy used in to make the T-Bars and platens, are used to hold the platens in place within the furnace. They are used between the platens and along the sides.