Flaring
Keeping flexibility in reliable connections

Flaring, also known as ‘cupping’, is a joining technology for carbon and stainless steel pipes. Unlike some other joining technologies, such as welding and gluing, flaring does not use any additional materials to join parts together. This technology is commonly used in high-volume markets, like the automotive industry, particularly in the production of car seats.

Demand for flexibility in reliable connections

In the production of car seats, a demand for flexibility in the assembly is very useful. Nowadays most cars have height-adjustable seat structures, where a standard welding solution is not applicable, because it completely fixes the materials in place. A joining technology which keeps the parts in place, but still providing sufficient reliable flexibility to tilt the cushion is needed.

Flaring provides this solution. With flaring, the ends of the tubes are placed in a fixture and firmly clamped. A specially designed tool is pushed into the tube from both sides. The high forces used in this process enables that the ends of the tubes are bent outwards to 90o or even 180°. The main objective of flaring is to establish guaranteed high-strength assemblies, but still providing sufficient flexibility for rotating movements of the tubes. Of course it is also possible to flare a solid joined, in which case the materials are fixed in place and movement is no longer an option.

A part from car seat production, a variety of other components can be joined together using the flaring process. In each specific case where round ends need to be connected, flaring is a serious, reliable solution.

Flaring is a fast, easy and environmentally-friendly technology for producing a vital component of a car seat or other components without the use of welding.

AWL Research and Development

AWL has developed a standard flaring module which provides flexibility, speed and simplicity. The flaring unit can be integrated in a complete production line or used as a standalone component.

To ensure the right connection, AWL has developed the process in-house by using sophisticated censoring and software based on the Force-Stroke principle. During the actual flaring, both parameters are closely measured, controlled and visualised on the operator screen by means of a graph.

 

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PDF with the AWL flaring information.