1. Interest

The interest in flow-forming technology stems from the specific characteristics of this process:

• production of rotationally symmetrical parts, similar to deep-drawn parts, with thicknesses ranging from thin (1 to 5 mm) to very thin (down to 0.15 mm);

• to produce products with excellent dimensional accuracy and a surface finish that reduces or eliminates the need for subsequent machining;

• material savings: constant-volume deformation and reduced reworking;

• mechanical properties enhanced by cold flow work-hardening (no final heat treatment required);

• application to a wide variety of metallic materials, including those considered difficult to deform (§