Forgings, castings and die-formed sheet metal shapes have all been re-designed so as to be formable by Expanders and Shrinkers… often with spectacular savings.

The part itself determines which process will be used. Normally, Expanding will be used if possible; if not, the Shrinker method will be considered. If this will not do, then a Combination Expander-Shrinker will be used.

The thinner wall sheet metal parts, 12 to 20 gauge particularly, are suitable for radial forming. Heavier rings and cylinders, above ¼ to ½ inch stock, are generally sized only. Parts as light as 30 gauge and as heavy as 2 ½ inch wall thickness are successfully expanded.

Hot forming is routinely done by the Expanding and Shrinking processes. Some materials, notably Titanium alloys, have poor cold forming capabilities, but at 1200° to 1400° F work very satisfactorily. Other super-alloys, aluminum extrusions, ring forgings, etc., are rolled or extruded hot then reformed and sized while still at elevated temperature. Hot forming machine bearing surfaces are protected from the transferred heat by internal water cooling systems.