Swaging is a metal-forming process, not to be confused with the hammering and crimping of rivets. When used on pipes, rods, wire cable, and other metal components, swaging can improve their strength and integrity. It also allows the parts to be more easily attached to other pieces, such as securing or terminating cables and steel ropes with fittings.
Swaged parts can have a variety of shapes, depending on the type of swaging machine used. For example, rotary swaging machines typically begin with tube, rod, or wire stock that has been reduced in diameter or tagged. This material is then inserted into a hardened steel die of the desired size. The spindle and cage of the swaging machine then rotates, causing the dies to hammer the stock, reducing its diameter and imparting a pointed end.
A punch swaging machine is one of the most simple swaging machines. To use it, a worker secures the narrow end of a piece of tubing in a vise or hand. Then, he or she fits the appropriate-sized punch into the tube. This is done by aligning the punch’s hole with the workpiece. Then, the punch is pushed through the workpiece until it stops.
The punch swaging machine can also swage flat and oval metal parts such as bolts, pins, and screws. It can even swage metal into internal shapes using a mandrel. The advantage of this machine is that it can swage parts without heat, allowing it to be used on materials that cannot be shaped by conventional cold working processes. It is a popular choice for swaging aircraft cables and lifelines, standing rigging on sailboats, and scenographic wire fall protection systems at theatres.
There are many types of swaging machines available on the market, including rotary, punch, and hydraulic. These types of swaging machines can be used on a variety of metalwork and metallurgical applications, including pipe swaging, which is the process of permanently joining pipes together by flaring the ends of the pipe. They are also used to create a wide range of other metal parts, such as fittings for steel cables and wire ropes and casters for furniture legs.
In addition to swaging, there are many other metalworking techniques that can be used to shape workpieces, such as cold forming and bending. These processes can be more accurate than machining, and they often produce smoother surfaces and improved mechanical properties. However, the tools and equipment needed for these processes can be expensive, and they may require more maintenance and repair than other metalworking tools and machinery. In addition, they often create a high level of noise, making them difficult to use in an office environment. This can be mitigated by proper mounting of the swaging machines and the use of enclosures to reduce noise levels. Nevertheless, swaging can be a very effective and cost-efficient method for creating a variety of metal parts.