Friction-assisted tube fabrication method

Abstract

A friction assisted tube fabrication method is disclosed. The friction assisted tube fabrication includes a set of methods such as a friction assisted tube forming, a friction assisted tube extrusion, and a friction assisted tube straining method. A metal object, for example, a deformable tube is simply deformed into the tube using a mandrel. The metal object with an initial diameter is forced across the slope of the mandrel with an angle. The mandrel is configured to rotate while forcing the metal object to deform into the tube with the desired radius. While rotating the mandrel, a friction is generated due to contact between the tube and the mandrel, thereby generating thermal energy to heat a deformation area of the tube for simply and easily softening and forming into the desired shape with accuracy diameter, and dimensions using a nominal pressing force without additional equipment and power.

1 . A method for friction assisted forming a metal object into a tube, comprising:
 forcing the metal object with an initial radius across the slope of a mandrel with an angle;   rotating the mandrel while forcing the metal object to deform into a tube with a desired radius, wherein the tube is in contact with the slope of the mandrel while rotating, thereby generating thermal energy to heat a deformation area of the tube for simply and easily softening and forming into a desired shape with a desired value of radius and dimensions using a nominal pressing force.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal object is a deformable tube. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel is configured to simply increase the radius of the tube by heating and softening the deformation area using thermal energy generated by friction between the tube and the slope of the mandrel while rotating. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radius of the tube is decreased using a die. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the die is configured to slidably and rotatably secure to an external surface of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the die is further configured to rotate in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction or with rotational oscillations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the die is further configured to enable an operator to rapidly rotate over the deformation area of the external surface of the tube, thereby generating thermal energy due to friction between the external surface and the die to heat the deformation area for simply and easily softening and precisely decreasing the tube radius to a desired value using a nominal pressing force. 
     
     
         8 . A method for friction assisted extruding a tube, comprising:
 forcing the tube with an initial thickness across the slope of an inner mandrel;   securing a die over an external surface of the tube and rapidly rotating the die over a deformation area of the tube, thereby generating thermal energy due to friction between the external surface and the die to heat the deformation area of the tube for simply and easily softening and precisely decreasing the tube thickness to a desired value using a nominal pressing force.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the inner mandrel is configured to securely hold the tube during the friction assist extruding process. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the die is configured to slidably and rotatably secure to an external surface of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the die is further configured to rotate in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction or with rotational oscillations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the die is further configured to enable an operator to rapidly rotate over the deformation area of the tube, thereby generating thermal energy due to friction between the external surface and the die to heat the deformation area of the tube for simply and easily softening and precisely decreasing the tube thickness to a desired value using a nominal pressing force. 
     
     
         13 . A method for friction assist tube straining to fabricate a metal object into a tube, comprising:
 forcing the metal object with an initial radius across a slope of a mandrel with an angle;   rotating the mandrel while forcing the deformable tube to deform the metal object into a tube with a desired radius, wherein the tube is in contact with the slope of the mandrel while rotating, thereby generating thermal energy due to friction between the tube and the slope of the mandrel to heat a deformation area of the tube for simply and easily softening and forming into a desired shape with an accuracy radius and dimensions using a nominal pressing force, and   securing a die over an external surface of the tube and rapidly rotating the die over a deformation area of the tube, thereby generating thermal energy due to friction between the external surface and the die to heat the deformation area of the tube for simply and easily softening and precisely decreasing the radius of the tube to a desired value using a nominal pressing force.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the metal object is a deformable tube. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mandrel is configured to simply increase the radius of the tube by heating and softening the deformation area using thermal energy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the thermal energy is generated due to friction between the mandrel and the external surface of the tube while rotating. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the die is configured to slidably and rotatably secure over the external surface of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the die is further configured to enable an operator to rapidly rotate over the deformation area of the external surface of the tube, thereby generating thermal energy due to friction between the external surface and the die to heat the deformation area for simply and easily softening and precisely decreasing the tube radius to a desired value using a nominal pressing force. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the inner mandrel is configured to securely hold the tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the die is further configured to enable an operator to rapidly rotate over the deformation area of the tube, thereby generating thermal energy due to friction between the external surface and the die to heat the deformation area of the tube for simply and easily softening and precisely decreasing the tube thickness to a desired value using a nominal pressing force.