Top 7 Benefits of Metal Spinning

Metal spinning is one of the most practical forms of metal shaping available. Metal spinning is a method of forming a flat metal disc on a lathe into different shapes. Metal spinning is often used by companies looking to create an affordable prototype–for a variety of reasons.

So, how does metal spinning work?

Well, it’s pretty simple. The metal spinning process begins with a blank metal disk. The blank is clamped onto a rotating mandrel, which is shaped with the profile of the final design.

Once the blank is clamped, forming slides push a rotating tool known as a roller up against the metal. The roller pushes the blank onto the mandrel in a series of consecutive motions until the design is complete.

This cold-forming metal shaping process is used across a wide range of industries from aerospace to food and beverage, industrial machinery to farm equipment, and a whole lot else.

Read on to learn the top 7 benefits of metal spinning.

1. One of the Biggest Benefits of Metal Spinning? It’s Very Affordable

Conventional casting, tooling, or stamping can be an expensive endeavor, while spinning is very affordable. Products are inexpensive compared to other approaches to manufacturing.

Still, the cost is dependent on the materials used. At Winward Engineering, we spin a range of metals from copper and aluminum, to titanium, brass, or steel.

2. You Change Easily Change Your Design

Because of the low cost and fast set-up time, you’re not locked into a design for the long haul. We get it, sometimes you need to switch gears during the prototyping process.

Manufacturing processes that involve a mold or a die-cast can get quite expensive and take up a lot of time. Which, if you’re unsure of your final design, can end up being a real headache down the line.

With metal spinning, you’re paying for the cost of material–the metal you decide to use, plus the labor involved–so there’s no real hold up when it comes to making changes.

3. Fast Turnaround Times

Turnaround times can be days usually, which is efficient when considering the low cost of tooling in-house, metal spinning is the answer for small to medium quality in under 3 days.

Hand metal spinning offers a short set up time and better control over quality. In doing the spinning by hand, craftspeople have more control over the thickness and stability of the product.

For larger orders, we’d typically recommend going with the CNC lathes. These machines allow for high-quality mass production in a short amount of time.

4. Adjustable Order Size

One of the most significant benefits of metal spinning is, this process doesn’t depend on customers meeting minimums. Whether you need a single prototype or a larger order, metal spinning is relatively affordable.

Manual or semi-automatic equipment may be used to make small batch orders or prototypes. Larger orders, by contrast, are typically made with automatic CNC metal spinning equipment. Tooling is always prepared to adapt to the material best suited to produce the required volume.

5. A Good Option for Parts that Need to be Symmetrical

Metal spinning makes sense for manufacturers dealing in symmetrical parts. While a variety of metals can be spun into a variety of pieces, the process works best for parts that fall into a certain set of shapes. So, you’ll need to be mindful of those limitations during the design process.

Shapes that work the best include:

• Cylinders
• Parabolas
• Donut shapes
• Hourglasses
• Hemispheres
• Cones
• Bells

Luckily, many of these parts are used in countless commercial applications. Think nose cones, gas cylinders, urns, and bells. Spun metal makes for great cookware and ornamental lighting, and on the flipside, applications like agriculture and aerospace-related parts.

6. Spun Parts Have No Seams

Another benefit of spinning is that the parts have no seams. This means that they can withstand higher pressures both internally and externally. they can withstand higher internal or external pressures. The reason behind the super-strength is that the grain structure is realigned, which bolsters the spun parts.

The process also allows for a lighter gauge material to be used where you’d normally need something heavier. The seamless, strong construction allows for the manufacturing of things like CO2 cartridges and scuba tanks.

Other products you can produce through metal spinning include small pieces of hardware made in bulk. Or, items like metal tumblers or auto parts.

Metal spinning can be used to produce single items in a cost-effective manner, as well as a small run of parts made from high-cost materials like platinum. Or, you can run large quantities of aluminum or copper parts for a fairly low price.

Costs may be reduced even further due to the fact that spinning equipment leaves the final product with a smooth finish. That added sheen reduces the need for extra tooling post-production.

7. Metal Spinning is Eco-Friendly

Finally, if you care about old mother Earth, it’s smart to consider metal spinning as a manufacturing option. Spinning is a low-emissions process that produces very little waste.

There are no toxic chemicals involved in the process and in some cases, you can use recycled materials as your blank.

Ready for a Metal Spinning Expert’s Opinion?

In the end, metal spinning could be a good solution for small batch runs. The process allows for some flexibility with materials, design, and order size, making it an ideal solution for companies on a budget.

Looking for a metal spinning expert in the UK? Want to learn more about the benefits of metal spinning? Contact us today to make an inquiry or request a quote.