To clarify, THIS VIDEO IS NOT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SPHERES, which is done like this: ua-cam.com/video/6DvWDCmbPxs/v-deo.html I am demonstrating that welding 2 flat discs does not make a sphere as some people expect, and that by altering the edges the inflation can be controllable for making more useful objects.
@@ConnorHolland Why when multi sheet solutions work well? Maybe thin the centre area of a fairly thick and soft disc to match desired elongation. Eg the 'equator' weld and the 'poles' should stay constant while the area between must stretch up and out. So, update my "thin in the centre" to thin a ring between the outside and centre.
@@getahanddownWhy when multi sheet solutions work well? Well... why not? There'a no harm in testing different things that might lead to cool discoveries and improvements.
To go from flat to spherical, I recommend learning more about origami. You were closest with the last one, but the petals need to be inverted from how they are as the cavity expands - basically the opposite of the ravioli and likely with deeper inseams. I expect you'll likely need to preform creases or otherwise weaken the metal slightly to ensure creases development where you want them. A big part of the issue you face is scale. At this size, there are a lot of forces fighting each other, especially material thickness and work hardening. Ultimately, you won't ever make a perfect sphere this way, likely for similar reasons it's so hard putting the globe on a 2D map. You can get close, but there's a reason why industry makes massive metal bouys the explosive way it does.
Ironically, I love the look of the first one, as a sort of hypothetical bean bag. I've seen some people do softbody/cloth deformations in blender and other physics simulations tools and then 3D printed the result; I think the one I like best is a simple sheet of cloth draped over a ball, but only the cloth is rendered, making a really cool illusion object. But recently someone did a small inflated pillow/beanbag style thing where they'd simulated a headphone case sitting on it to make a 'stand', and it got me thinking, you could hydroform a chair like those 90's inflatable vinyl ones, it'd have all the folds and wrinkles and aesthetic but be made of metal and much sturdier despite looking soft and plump.
I had one of those 90s chairs, I'm going to be making more pieces that resemble inflatables. Growing up I thought that inflatables were the coolest things ever, which probably explains why I like hydroforming so much
Great Experiments! In Your 3rd One as You were tapping the Pancake, the Sound it made hinted already at a faulty Weld or Weakness - so tap your Pieces and listen to the Sound :)
At some point, you will realize that you are actually a surrealist artist making trans-dimensional couch cushions as a public statement against the cruel treatment of mimes.
Metal working is a magical as make up. Just transforming stuff. I like the English Wheel bits and the hammer forming bits @5:40. It just doesn't brain for me and looks like witchcraft. It is so cool what you can do if you know how to do it.
If you look up a paper called "wrapping sphere with flat paper" you'll see some great examples. Steel being more compliant than paper means you could probably use a simplified form. And you could almost certainly construct it out of only one or two sheets like you're doing here. Honestly though I love watching these experiments, there's so much to learn from them that "succeeding" would almost be a let down 😅
I noticed an issue when you are tig welding the 2nd form shut. When welding, you do a beat, 1 inch, then turn the piece, so you always weld opposite corners. I don't know how much impact it will have on the end structure, but it's a thing :) Anyhow cool stuff man, love it!
I really like the English wheel method to add a camber to the pieces! I always struggle with clamping the edges and heat distortion making the sheets separate.
I have been trying to inflate products like tafla by zieta for a long time. So far I have come to understand that the product probably needs to be compressed along the contour, by 2-3 mm and inflated in a narrow space, to create the necessary edges. It is very difficult so far
I would imagine the mirrors are created by inflating the pieces between two thick steel plates, attached to a frame that can adjust the amount of space between them
Previous job we used hydraulic presses to clamp the edges down then pump in high pressure air to inflate the metal to perfect domes. We were doing single sheets but maybe a ring shaped clamp around the edge over your welds will give better results to reduce stress points?
@@kmyerslp85 I've seen and tested bolting down circles to thick steel plates, but it sounds like hydraulic presses would work better & faster, as bolt holes/channels are weak points and limit how much the metal can stretch
Our bulged disks ranged from 1/2" to 4 foot diameter. At those larger scales you are talking 1000 tons plus holding force to resist the forces from bulging.
@@ConnorHolland we were doing .015 to .125" stainless. Grain direction is something else to consider while forming. I agree with a previous comment talking about Colin Furze attempt at making spheres. You can just cut a section out of the formed sphere. It's not the zero waste method you were trying for but should work better.
@ thank you so much for sharing. Do you have a video where you talk about the equipment you use for your experimentation? I would love to try this Hydro forming technique. Keep up the incredible content totally a new subscriber great job.
The third one seemed the closest, but the amount and type of equipment involved almost makes the hydro-forming aspect redundant. (If you had all the stuff there, you could probably shape things enough with those tools.)
Almost. The English wheel is a new tool for me, but even if I was a wheel expert I still think hydroforming would be faster (for deeper pieces rather than shallow ones). If I were to make the third experiment again, I wouldn't do so much pre-shaping
Because I understand what you're looking for, which is the cylindrical shape that most resists hydrostatic pressure to shape it, but I haven't seen the pressure in the video, which would help you know which is the most resistant shape. Although it's also possible that you were controlling it without including it in the video, have you tried making one with pentagons?
I don't currently have a pressure gauge, and I'm mostly seeing how the the shape of pieces change from deflated to inflated, to discover useful geometries. Here is one with pentagons/hexagons: ua-cam.com/video/U3jeHYY6wsQ/v-deo.html
Looks like the problem is that the edges that become the equator have to contract while the poles expand. Its still trying to be a sphere. So i guess youd have to get the poles to contract and the equator expand, so an inverted blank so to speak. So i think theres no choice but to make it in three oeoces, with the edges curled in, however the most force wont be where you need it.
I use the term 'Hydroforming' as a process being applied onto a previously 'uninflated' object, in this case a circle. I also use the term for creating a specific end result, which in this case was not spheres
All these look like birthday metallized ballons. By looking at the edge patterns in different shapes of those ballons, we can learn a lot of the physics of shrinking at different edges "profiles" (and translate them to metalic shapes)
I can predict what will happen a majority of the time based on previous experience, but I like to know for certain and film the results. Unexpected things can still happen
To clarify, THIS VIDEO IS NOT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SPHERES, which is done like this: ua-cam.com/video/6DvWDCmbPxs/v-deo.html I am demonstrating that welding 2 flat discs does not make a sphere as some people expect, and that by altering the edges the inflation can be controllable for making more useful objects.
Glad you clarified.
Colin Furze hydro formed perfect spheres for his three-wheeler.
He did, and he also mentioned me in his video (12:00). This video is focusing on (mostly) flat 2D circles inflating to 3D, made from just two sheets
@@ConnorHolland
Why when multi sheet solutions work well?
Maybe thin the centre area of a fairly thick and soft disc to match desired elongation.
Eg the 'equator' weld and the 'poles' should stay constant while the area between must stretch up and out.
So, update my "thin in the centre" to thin a ring between the outside and centre.
@@getahanddownWhy when multi sheet solutions work well? Well... why not? There'a no harm in testing different things that might lead to cool discoveries and improvements.
That guys a legend and easily one of the very best UA-cam channels
@@ConnorHolland nobody asked is he mentioned you. that was a pretentious thing to say.
"look at me look at me" garbage human.
To go from flat to spherical, I recommend learning more about origami. You were closest with the last one, but the petals need to be inverted from how they are as the cavity expands - basically the opposite of the ravioli and likely with deeper inseams. I expect you'll likely need to preform creases or otherwise weaken the metal slightly to ensure creases development where you want them. A big part of the issue you face is scale. At this size, there are a lot of forces fighting each other, especially material thickness and work hardening. Ultimately, you won't ever make a perfect sphere this way, likely for similar reasons it's so hard putting the globe on a 2D map. You can get close, but there's a reason why industry makes massive metal bouys the explosive way it does.
great comment. can't represent a 3d ahape with a 2d profile no matter how much Psi it takes
I love watching experiments, thanks for uploading!
Don't give up, you're definitely onto something here. OK maybe not the car rim shaped one but it definitely looks like you're getting closer
Ironically, I love the look of the first one, as a sort of hypothetical bean bag. I've seen some people do softbody/cloth deformations in blender and other physics simulations tools and then 3D printed the result; I think the one I like best is a simple sheet of cloth draped over a ball, but only the cloth is rendered, making a really cool illusion object. But recently someone did a small inflated pillow/beanbag style thing where they'd simulated a headphone case sitting on it to make a 'stand', and it got me thinking, you could hydroform a chair like those 90's inflatable vinyl ones, it'd have all the folds and wrinkles and aesthetic but be made of metal and much sturdier despite looking soft and plump.
2nd lookin like a whoopie cushion
I had one of those 90s chairs, I'm going to be making more pieces that resemble inflatables. Growing up I thought that inflatables were the coolest things ever, which probably explains why I like hydroforming so much
A tennis ball ... essentially made from 2 flat pieces shaped a little like a peanut shell, perpendicular to each other.
Just an idea.
Like this: ua-cam.com/video/fBo7UbI6FMk/v-deo.html I would like to make some more for a dedicated video
Great Experiments! In Your 3rd One as You were tapping the Pancake, the Sound it made hinted already at a faulty Weld or Weakness - so tap your Pieces and listen to the Sound :)
We need more!
At some point, you will realize that you are actually a surrealist artist making trans-dimensional couch cushions as a public statement against the cruel treatment of mimes.
Underrated comment!
Metal working is a magical as make up. Just transforming stuff. I like the English Wheel bits and the hammer forming bits @5:40. It just doesn't brain for me and looks like witchcraft. It is so cool what you can do if you know how to do it.
Great idea.
If you look up a paper called "wrapping sphere with flat paper" you'll see some great examples.
Steel being more compliant than paper means you could probably use a simplified form. And you could almost certainly construct it out of only one or two sheets like you're doing here.
Honestly though I love watching these experiments, there's so much to learn from them that "succeeding" would almost be a let down 😅
I noticed an issue when you are tig welding the 2nd form shut. When welding, you do a beat, 1 inch, then turn the piece, so you always weld opposite corners. I don't know how much impact it will have on the end structure, but it's a thing :) Anyhow cool stuff man, love it!
I really like the English wheel method to add a camber to the pieces! I always struggle with clamping the edges and heat distortion making the sheets separate.
Yep the separation is annoying, wheeling also helps the piece inflate the right way, without unwanted folds forming
I have been trying to inflate products like tafla by zieta for a long time. So far I have come to understand that the product probably needs to be compressed along the contour, by 2-3 mm and inflated in a narrow space, to create the necessary edges. It is very difficult so far
I would imagine the mirrors are created by inflating the pieces between two thick steel plates, attached to a frame that can adjust the amount of space between them
Previous job we used hydraulic presses to clamp the edges down then pump in high pressure air to inflate the metal to perfect domes. We were doing single sheets but maybe a ring shaped clamp around the edge over your welds will give better results to reduce stress points?
@@kmyerslp85 I've seen and tested bolting down circles to thick steel plates, but it sounds like hydraulic presses would work better & faster, as bolt holes/channels are weak points and limit how much the metal can stretch
Our bulged disks ranged from 1/2" to 4 foot diameter. At those larger scales you are talking 1000 tons plus holding force to resist the forces from bulging.
@@kmyerslp85 What thickness is the sheet you use? I typically use 1mm, which requires less pressure
@@ConnorHolland we were doing .015 to .125" stainless. Grain direction is something else to consider while forming. I agree with a previous comment talking about Colin Furze attempt at making spheres. You can just cut a section out of the formed sphere. It's not the zero waste method you were trying for but should work better.
Yes that is my preferred method so far: ua-cam.com/video/fSUyKE5UALY/v-deo.html But I would like to try single sheet forming in a future video
The metal is too thick and every time the fail is your welds, but now you can open up a space drum business
put square teeth on the 2 circle edges, bend the teeth 90 degrees, then you can *mesh* the 2 circles and weld em
What gauge and metal is this? Keep up the great experiments!
1mm thick mild steel
@ thank you so much for sharing. Do you have a video where you talk about the equipment you use for your experimentation? I would love to try this Hydro forming technique. Keep up the incredible content totally a new subscriber great job.
You're welcome, here is a link to my hydroforming tutorial: ua-cam.com/video/kMz8JmDNVyw/v-deo.html
The third one seemed the closest, but the amount and type of equipment involved almost makes the hydro-forming aspect redundant. (If you had all the stuff there, you could probably shape things enough with those tools.)
Almost. The English wheel is a new tool for me, but even if I was a wheel expert I still think hydroforming would be faster (for deeper pieces rather than shallow ones). If I were to make the third experiment again, I wouldn't do so much pre-shaping
5 is approaching the aesthetic of those Mylar balloons.
Look at it this way, you may not had made a circle but cut some of them in two and you have a nice casserole dish, nut bowl or jello mold .
Because I understand what you're looking for, which is the cylindrical shape that most resists hydrostatic pressure to shape it, but I haven't seen the pressure in the video, which would help you know which is the most resistant shape.
Although it's also possible that you were controlling it without including it in the video, have you tried making one with pentagons?
I don't currently have a pressure gauge, and I'm mostly seeing how the the shape of pieces change from deflated to inflated, to discover useful geometries. Here is one with pentagons/hexagons: ua-cam.com/video/U3jeHYY6wsQ/v-deo.html
Have you ever tried making a ball (sphere) and then flattening that then try to force water into it and see if it would reform itself?
It might work, but in my mind the flattening would make the weld seams split or too weak to reform into a sphere
Some cools results, I wonder if the metal was corrugated or something.
Looks like the problem is that the edges that become the equator have to contract while the poles expand. Its still trying to be a sphere.
So i guess youd have to get the poles to contract and the equator expand, so an inverted blank so to speak. So i think theres no choice but to make it in three oeoces, with the edges curled in, however the most force wont be where you need it.
Impressuve :)
Take a sphere and cut it in half then flatten it. Weld it together and hydro form it again
Try hydroforming the nba ball that every nba player hated
neat!
The shape and pattern of basketball
Just a thought but what about two cones fat end toward each other?
Yes that does work, as seen here: ua-cam.com/video/fSUyKE5UALY/v-deo.html
Technically easiest one will be perfect cube or any polyhedron for the matter
Use combination hexagons pentagons like a soccer ball
Here is me making a soccer ball: ua-cam.com/video/U3jeHYY6wsQ/v-deo.html
In order to make a sphere you need to make the objects its forming hyperbolic
congratz ya made metal whoopie cushions.....
You can't start with 2d perfect circles that will end up in the same shape when the shape becomes 3d.
More material is needed
Colin furze needs hydroform gear wheels for dirt
Good idea!
Better welding = better results.
Make a hexagon shape and then it will work
Here is hydroforming a football: ua-cam.com/video/U3jeHYY6wsQ/v-deo.html
Полуавтоматом вари!
Balls harden
Your table should be a clue
Hydro forming Circles is Impossible? Yes, a Circle is a 2D shape! Hydro forming Spheres is...
I use the term 'Hydroforming' as a process being applied onto a previously 'uninflated' object, in this case a circle. I also use the term for creating a specific end result, which in this case was not spheres
All these look like birthday metallized ballons.
By looking at the edge patterns in different shapes of those ballons, we can learn a lot of the physics of shrinking at different edges "profiles" (and translate them to metalic shapes)
Yes, also the flexibility of thin foil helps to even out all of the creases, so maybe I should try getting thinner steel, or making my pieces larger
Hydroforming is literally how spheres are made😂
I know, here I am doing it: ua-cam.com/video/6DvWDCmbPxs/v-deo.html
Nice forming but you had to know 95% of these weren't going to work even before started fabbing.
I can predict what will happen a majority of the time based on previous experience, but I like to know for certain and film the results. Unexpected things can still happen
make a cube, then do your thing
Here's a cube: ua-cam.com/video/I2Yjoqep5yM/v-deo.html
Just the fact that he calls it "Circle" in the title made me know he would fail in his archaic methods of makung a "Sphere"...
You should have also read the description and my pinned comment
make a soccer ball.
Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/U3jeHYY6wsQ/v-deo.html
@@ConnorHolland sweeeeeeeeet
you do realise a circle is a 2D shape don't you?
*realize
Yes I went to primary school. Hydroforming is being applied to the shape, rather than creating it
may not be possible for you or many other people... keep trying though
If you know a way to inflate a 2D circle (not sphere) so it remains perfectly circular while inflating, I would like to see it