Heading machine is a type of mechanical stamping equipment that transforms raw materials into fasteners or other metal components through plastic deformation. It is a cold forming process that does not require heating the metal, and it saves on both cost and material because it eliminates many secondary operations such as machining and rolling. This method is typically used for producing core aluminum rivets and semi-hollow iron rivets.
In order for this process to be successful, the metal must have a high strength-to-weight ratio. To ensure that this is the case, the raw material must undergo proper pre-treatment. This will include cleaning, deoxidizing and annealing the material. After this, the metal must be subjected to cold forming in a machine that is capable of producing the desired part. There are two primary techniques that can be used to achieve this goal, including upset forging and extrusion.
Upset forging, also known as heading, is the most common form of cold forming. This is a well-developed metal working technique that involves forging the stock into an upset, or finished, shape without heat. The stock will typically be a piece of round wire that is smaller than the diameter that the finished fastener will be.
The slug, or blank, is then fed into a die that will allow for the proper shaping of the metal. A punch is then inserted into the die to force the material into a new shape. A slug that is too long to fit into the die will likely buckle or bend during compression. This can be avoided by using a die that has a larger cavity than the slug itself.
Once the slug has been formed into a desired shape, it will then be transferred to a transfer press. This will apply additional pressure to the slug in order to prevent it from becoming damaged during further processing. The slug is then passed through a series of progressive dies in order to form an intricately shaped finish. There is typically very little waste produced during this process because the finished product will have been shaped from the same volume of the initial slug.
There are a number of different types of heading machines available on the market. These range from a single blow up to a five-die progression system. Each machine is designed to produce a specific type of finished fastener, and it is important to understand how these machines work in order to select the right one for your needs. Stalcop can help you choose the right machine for your project by explaining the advantages of each type and how they differ from each other. This will help you select the best equipment for your application and avoid any costly mistakes in the process.