A.Hydraulic Bulge Method (Cold Forming)
Hydraulic bulging of stainless steel tees is a forming process that expands branch pipes through axial compensation of metal materials. The process is to use a special hydraulic press to inject liquid into the tube blank with the same diameter as the tee, and squeeze the tube blank through the synchronous centering movement of the two horizontal side cylinders of the hydraulic press. The volume of the tube blank becomes smaller after being squeezed, and the inside of the tube blank becomes smaller. The pressure of the liquid increases as the volume of the tube becomes smaller. When the pressure required for the expansion of the stainless steel tee branch is reached, the metal material flows along the inner cavity of the mold under the dual action of the liquid pressure in the side cylinder and the tube and expands the branch.
Advantage:The hydraulic bulging process of stainless steel tees can be formed in one step, with high production efficiency, no obvious impact on material properties, and good surface finish.
Disadvantage: This method cannot produce higher thickness tees.
B.Hot Extrusion Method *
The hot pressing method of stainless steel tee is a forming process that expands the branch pipe through radial compensation of metal materials.The process of the three-way hot pressing method is to first heat the tube blank that is larger than the tee diameter, then put it into the forming mold after heating, and the tube tube is radially compressed under the action of pressure. During the radial compression process, the stainless steel flows in the direction of the branch pipe to form a branch pipe. After the tee is formed, it is taken out, and then a hole is made in the branch pipe.
Advantage:This method is suitable for making thicker stainless steel tee.
