Difference between hot forming and cold forming

Both hot forming and cold forming form metal into its final shape,but what’s the difference between hot forming and cold forming.We compare them in several ways.

Run Speed & Quality

With hot steel, it might take 50 rolls to thin a workpiece out, while that same piece may require 100 passes with cold roll forming. Why? It takes more force to manipulate the metal.

However … with more rolls, you can also get tighter tolerances on the piece and a higher-quality end product. This can increase the costs because of the additional machinery and labor time required, but it may be worth it to your customer.

ASME B16.9 ASTM A403 WP304 Long Radius Elbows

Structural Uses

Structural shapes like I-beams are usually hot rolled. The formula of steel used for I beams is different than used in cold forming. It’s less ductile and harder, which makes it tougher to bend cold, hence the use for structural shapes that carry a lot of weight!

Cold roll forming has many commercial and industrial uses. They include:Sign posts & guard rails,Solar,Refrigeration,Escalators & elevators.

Strength

For similar grades, cold rolled metal can be stronger than hot rolled metal because of what’s called work hardening. When you put a piece through 100 vs. 50 passes, the strain you put on the material actually hardens it and makes it stronger.

SS316 SCH80 Pipe Nipples

If hot rolled sheet is specified for a part that will be roll formed, you’ll still get some added strength. But it won’t match the strength you would have received if you started with standard cold rolled material.

Size Limits

As we mentioned, steel sheet is only hot rolled up to a certain thickness. You can’t buy 20 gauge hot rolled sheets. At that point, you’ll have to use cold rolled.

Since roll formed parts are usually produced from coiled material, product length is limited only by the amount of material in the coil and the handling of the finished part. Hot rolled shapes are also only limited by equipment capability.

Contact Haihao Group to learn more technical issues of the steel piping goods.Email:sales@haihaogroup.com