Metal drawing is one of many fabrication processes, including folding, welding, cutting, casting, and punching.
Drawing uses tensile force to stretch and shape metal and it offers some key advantages over these other metalworking processes.
For example:
- Speed. Drawing processes are readily automated and can produce high volumes in relatively short periods of time.
- Complex. Drawing is a versatile process and can produce complex and detailed shapes quickly and accurately.
- Seamless. As components are formed from a single piece of metal, they are seamless, a necessary requirement in certain products.
Types of metal drawing
Sheet metal drawing
Sheet metal drawing is a process that makes use of tensile force to shape metal, plastic, or glass. The metal is pulled through the drawing machine and pressed into the desired shape or form, becoming thinner as additional pressure is applied. Most often performed on room-temperature metal, sheet metal drawing is classified as a cold drawing technique that offers an accurate result without compromising the strength of the metal.
Bar, tube, and wire drawing
A variation of metal drawing, tube, or bar drawing makes use of a die through which the metal is drawn, steadily reducing its diameter.
This process can be used on hot or cold metals, depending on the final purpose of the product.
Bar drawing can reduce the area of a metal piece by 20 – 50%, depending on its ductility, and it passes through dies which get progressively smaller until the final size is required. Tube drawing is much the same process, but with the starting stock already in a tube form.
Wire drawing produces lengths of flexible metal wire after being drawn through a series of dies of decreasing diameter.
Certainly, each fabrication process comes with its own unique advantages depending on your unique requirements.
If you’re looking for fabrication experts in South Africa, then please give our team a call. We’re equipped to help.