Composite Forming Tools

Following the development in aircraft manufacturing techniques and the increase of composite parts the forming of composite structures is now more and more common.

Forming tools made from suitable alloys with minimal thermal expansion at room temperature and up to about 230°C are required.

Cronite Group has developed Austenitic Nickel Iron alloys, our HR21 range, to meet this requirement.

Cronite’s HR21 range of alloys are a cast Nickel Iron. This can offer significant advantages over wrought or forged Invar plate, particularly for complex shapes.

Advantages of cast tools

  • Cast to near net shape.
  • Lower machining costs.
  • Reduced material wastage.

Disadvantages of sheet and plate

  • Difficult or impossible to form complex shapes , double curvatures.
  • Difficult to weld without distortion.