Optimisation of Condition in Hot Gas Bulging of Aluminium Alloy Tube Using Resistance Heating Set into Dies

Abstract

A hot gas bulging process of an aluminium alloy tube using resistance heating set into a die was developed. In the developed process, the tube was heated during the forming, and thus the drop in temperature was prevented. The control of the hot gas bulging was simplified by sealing air in the tube. The tube was bulged by thermal expansion of the air sealed in the tube without control of internal pressure during the forming. Hot gas bulging of an aluminium alloy tube without and with the axial feeding was performed. The deformation behaviour of the tube in the die was observed by a heatproof glass plate inserted in the die. The timing of the axial feeding, the feeding velocity and the amount of the axial feeding were optimised.