Metal Fab Question?

[jgp12000]

My neighbor had a cookout the other day using his new Recteq pellet Grill. It also has an app   if I ever get one it seems like the one to get.Anywho,one of the engineers was talking about how they use water pressure to make auto body panels.Another process was a brass Thread to cut metal.I am familiar with waterjet but never heard of These processes. I had a few at the cookout so the details are fuzzy now ? 

[tincanary]

I worked for GM in pre-production back 15 years ago and we didn't make body panels in that manner back then.  They were simply stamped and spot welded.  The new Corvette at the time (C7) did have a hydro formed frame though, and that was considered cutting edge then.  Other manufacturers are probably different I can imagine.

[Brewcrafter]

I worked for GM in pre-production back 15 years ago and we didn't make body panels in that manner back then.  They were simply stamped and spot welded.  The new Corvette at the time (C7) did have a hydro formed frame though, and that was considered cutting edge then.  Other manufacturers are probably different I can imagine.

I remember they made a big deal about that Corvette frame back in the day; and yes super trick! If anyone wants another fun one to wrap your head around, look at Extrude Hone Hydraulic machining... - john

[Robert Janssen]

The brass thread to cut metal technique is called Wire EDM

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_discharge_machining

[jgp12000]

Thank you for the info,cool stuff!

[boon]

Hydroforming is very cool. Just lots of pressure and a big die to form the material into. Very nice for making interesting hollow section, bicycle manufacture has used it for a long time now.

[Bill B]

IIRC years ago, Mercedes Benz was the first company to use water pressure to make a negative bend in a body panel.  Bill

[tincanary]

I remember they made a big deal about that Corvette frame back in the day; and yes super trick! If anyone wants another fun one to wrap your head around, look at Extrude Hone Hydraulic machining... - john

Extrude Hone has been around a long time.  I remember 30 years ago a friend of mine sent a set of Chevy L98 heads and TPI lower intake manifold out to them for porting.  The ports on the heads were smooth as a baby's behind and the lower intake was port matched to the heads.  That car was a rocket for the time; '86 Corvette with a 383 and 4+3 manual.  A few years later he ended up dumping the TPI setup for a Cutler EFI system that was originally intended for marine use.