How do they make the darn things?

[android]

Anybody got photos or a website that show how steel tanks are made?

I assume they are cold worked from disks or some such thing, but would like to see the process.

 

[jonnythan]

Rodale's had a good article on how Al cylinders are made (a cylinder of aluminum is kinda stamped into by a rod that matches the internal diameter). I've been wondering about steel myself.

 

[mxracer19]

PR IS AWSOME. I called PST to inquire about just that. They are mailing me a video on how their steel cylinders are made. Its 100% free and all you have to do is call, so jump on it. Should be pretty cool to see.

PST's number is 414-476-0500. Press 1 for the customer service menu.



-Matt

 

[mxracer19]

Alright for those of you that cannot wait, a steel tank is made like this:

Forming steel tanks for scuba uses a cold-formed process called the deep-drawn process. In this process, a single blank of steel or other metal is forced into a die using a large punch. Deep-drawing differs from stamping in that deeper cavities can be formed. In this process, the depth of the cavity can be greater than its diameter.

More of a report when I get my video


-Matt

 

[Wayward Son]

Yeah, it's a punch & die setup with a hydraulic press. Basically a hockey puck of AL is turned into a tank (not including forming the neck & shoulder & threading it) in less than a second. Really quite amazing, to me at least.

 

[mossym]

Yeah, it's a punch & die setup with a hydraulic press. Basically a hockey puck of AL is turned into a tank (not including forming the neck & shoulder & threading it) in less than a second. Really quite amazing, to me at least.

yeah that's an aluminum tank, i thought steel would be different

 

[aquaoren]

http://www.divefaber.com/
--> Menu, than --> Production cycle.

 

[Wayward Son]

Cool, it's the same basic deal, just from plate rather than a puck. I knew a guy back in the 1970's who had a tour of the plant where tanks were made for US Divers, and he told me it was a cold forming process using a punch & die, from steel plate. Guess if it works, no need to change it, LOL. I'd like to actually see it in person myself one day.