Forming is a mechanical process used in manufacturing industries wherein materials (mostly metals) undergo plastic deformations and acquire required shapes and sizes by application of suitable stresses such as compression, shear and tension. In the forming process, no material is removed; it is completely displaced and deformed into the required shape. Some of the commonly used forming processes in the manufacturing industry are:
- Forging
- Rolling
- Extrusion
- Thread rolling
- Rotary swaging
- Explosive forming
- Electromagnetic forming
Forming, also known as "metal forming," includes a wide range of manufacturing processes in which metal is deformed into a required shape by the application of suitable stresses. To make the metal plastically deformed, forces must be applied that are greater than the yield strength of the metals. The magnitude of the compression, stretching or bending in the material, is directly proportional to the force applied.
In industrial processes, forming is characterized by:
- High levels of loads and stresses ranging from 50 to 2,500 newtons per square millimeter.
- Big, heavy and expensive machinery, which can generate a high amount of stresses and loads.
- Many parts that are produced in less time, which helps in maximizing the production economy or reaching economies of scale.