Re: hydroforming : was water spark gaps

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "David Trimmell" <davidt-at-pond-dot-net> 

Hi, I think the "hydro forming" method would have many serious advantages 
over using HE (high explosives). Most HE are brissent enough to cause 
fracturing of metal, something you wouldn't want in a toroid. I have played 
with Lead Azide (a primary HE often used in blasting caps) charges to see 
how it would form copper pipe. I used 1.5" water pipe with charges (very 
small, you see) on the outside, depending on the size it would produce a 
nice concave dent, or actually blow a hole through the pipe. But even the 
small charges would produce some fracturing of the metal. One possibility 
would be to use HE in the water tank in place of the spark gap, though. 
Perhaps that is what you were thinking Terry?

Regards,

David Trimmell
www.ChaoticUniverse-dot-com

At 05:32 PM 12/1/00, you wrote:
>Original poster: "bob golding" <yubba-at-clara-dot-net>
>
>
>
>Tesla list wrote:
> >
> > Original poster: "Ed Phillips" <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>
>
>.  I used to wander down the line for amusement, and
> > remember one of the machines they used for forming fairly large aluminum
> > panels.  It was a tank of water with a female cavity in the bottom. A
> > sheet of aluminum was placed over the cavity, and a great big capacitor
> > bank discharged into a spark gap in the water.  This created a pressure
> > wave which then forced the aluminum into the die.  Think the process is
> > called hydroforming, but that may be a generic name.
>
>Hi all,
>         Ok guys and girls, who will be the first to produce an hydroformed
>toroid. It sounds like it might be easier than spinning. Get a big piece
>of steel pipe bent into shape, chop it in half, weld to the bottom of a
>tank, place aluminium sheet in bottom of tank, fill with water, insert
>spark gap, cover and stand clear, throw switch. BANG!! one half toriod,
>maybe... Anyone fill us in on the details, or let me know off list if
>Terry thinks it is getting off topic*.
>
>cheers
>bob golding
>
> >>*perfectly on-topic and above the completely impractical cutoff.  I think
>conventional explosives my be more practical than a spark gap thing.  There
>are a few explosive experts on the list... - Terry<<