top of page
  • allprecisionsales

What is Metal Forming?

Updated: Aug 16, 2023


A rollforming machine changing the shape of a piece of metal in El Paso.

Metal forming is the process of taking a bland piece of metal and forming it into something meaningful. Metal forming can be used in many industries for practical, everyday purposes and in the field of art. Not to be confused with metal fabrication, metal forming is done for a specific purpose and is one of the top uses in the metal industry.

If you're curious and want to know more about the basics, uses, and processes of metal forming in El Paso, you've come to the right place. Contact All Precision online or call (915) 781-7074 to learn more about our services.

Metal Forming: The Basics

Metal forming is one of the top uses for metal in the world. It's used in dozens of industries for many purposes. While metal forming can mean several different things and is used in different ways, it always has one thing in common. Metal forming is the process of taking a piece of metal and forming it into something else.

Typically, metal forming in El Paso is done for a specific purpose because the metal in question has to be a certain shape to be useful. Metal forming includes taking a raw metal material and transforming it into a finished, usable part. Metal forming is part of a larger process known as fabrication and is often accompanied by other jobs, such as metal bending, casting, extraction, and more.

On its own, metal is a hard, unmalleable material. Therefore, it has to undergo a process known as plastic deformation in order to make it possible to form. Plastic deformation is a permanent process, and you can't undo the shape into which you convert the metal.

The Metal Forming Process

While plastic deformation and metal forming are intertwined, they're achieved through a complicated process. The overall goal, however, is to place enough stress on the metal so that it bends to the will of the former. This is achieved by using certain tools and practices that exert more force and strength than the metal can withstand. Often, this includes compression, tension, bending, torque, and more.

  • Metal stretching

The metal stretching process is a type of metal forming where you stretch and strain a piece of metal using a series of dyes. Through a process known as radial strain, this stretches and contours metal to certain lengths and shapes.

  • Metal bending

One of the most common types of metal forming, metal bending, is when you use force to bend metal to a certain shape. Once completed, the metal will permanently take on the given shape, and you can't change it to its original form.

  • Metal roll forming

Metal roll forming is typically used with thin pieces of metal, and it involves passing a sheet of metal through a series of rollers. These rollers bend and shape the metal to a certain mold for a specific purpose. Contact us to learn more or schedule our roll-forming services.

  • Metal deep drawing

Another common type of metal forming, deep metal drawing, is a fairly common practice. Essentially, deep metal drawing is when you take a dye of a specific shape and bend a flat piece of metal over top of it so that the metal takes on the shape of the dye.

Types of Metals Used for Metal Forming

If you have the right equipment and tools, you can use almost any type of metal in the metal-forming process, including the following.

  • Sheet metal

  • Brass

  • Copper

  • Aluminum

  • Galvanized and stainless steel

Practical Purposes for Metal Forming

If you work with metal in any capacity, you'll likely require metal-forming services. If you're looking for metal forming in El Paso, look no further than All Precision. We offer the best metal forming services in El Paso, including on-site roll forming. That means we'll come to you and roll form metal into whatever shape you need. Contact us online or call (915) 781-7074 to learn more or schedule an appointment.

116 views
bottom of page