superforming vs hydroforming

[shirt]

re: this section of the morgan headline:

"It’s a little-known fact that Morgan was a trail-blazer for Superform technology in the automotive sector (a process whereby incredibly complex panels are formed against moulds using air pressure and 500 C degrees of applied heat), introducing it first to replace costly and time-consuming hand-beaten wings across the range in the 1990s"

sounds innovative, but this process sounds quite drawn out to me, especially having recently visited an automotive r&d facility where they used hydroforming [water pressure against a forming buck, no heat required] to meet much the same ends.

can someone please explain the difference. why is the heat required?

[Nick_F]

Presumably as part of the heat treatment of the aluminium they are using?

[shirt]

why though?

[Mojocvh]

G O O G L E

http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=2540

now feck aff!

[Nick_F]

You shape it in the 'dead soft' condition, because it's easiest, and then heat treat to achieve the desired properties.