Development of Manufacturing Method of Vessel for Keeping Warm by Hydraulic Bulging

Bulging is a forming method to shape die cavity by using hydraulic pressure in tube or vessel. Bulging machine and die were developed in order to produce vessel for keeping warm. Bulging machine is a double type with two horizontal cylinders for bulging of two pieces at the same time. The developed die system has one bulging die and two drawing dies for necking at both ends of the tube. The diameter of tube expands by hydraulic pressure in tube. At the same time, thrust at both ends of the tube pushes tube in the direction of expansion to obtain high expansion rate with no crack. In this study, the bulging properties were investigated to solve tube crack and necking in manufacturing vessel by combining bulging and drawing. As a result, high expanding rate of tube radius without crack, precision necking and high productivity were obtained.