The process of producing metal cones

Occasionally, plates of steel, aluminium or similar metals need to be bent into cone shapes. This can be for a variety of reasons and can vary from industry to industry –

without wanting to sound too cliché, the possibilities are endless.

CSM are skilled in many areas, from sheet metal fabrication to welding and more. As you can imagine, producing sheet metal cones is an incredibly skilful and precise procedure, but one that we are accustomed to here at CSM, and is another one of the skills we have under our belt.. We’re going to take a look at what applications a metal cone can have, what type of cones it’s possible for CSM to produce for you, and some of the things you’ll need to consider before having your cones designed and produced.

 


Interested in buying bespoke metal cones?
Contact us to see how we can help.

 


What are metal cones used for?

As we’ve already mentioned, metal cones have a huge number of applications in a number of industries, the most prominent being construction and architecture. In architecture, cones are generally used for aesthetic purposes, whereas they tend to have more functional use in construction. This can include the offshore wind industry as well as fossil fuel and gas industries. In these instances, cones can be used as funnels, to increase or decrease pipe width, and are frequently found in ventilation and ductwork.

What type of cones is it possible to produce?

There are two types of cones that can be produced – non-truncated and truncated cones. First, we’ll take a look at non-truncated cones:

Non-truncated cones present a full cone shape, as you can see in the image above.

The second – and far more common – shape is a cone with diameters of two different sizes at each end. Or, to be a little more illustrative, a cone that doesn’t have a pointed tip .

When it comes to truncated cones, they can either be concentric or eccentric. So how can you tell the difference? If you imagine looking down a cone, a concentric one will have aligned diameters – so you’d see one perfect circle sitting dead in the centre of another. The above image, for instance, is an example of a concentric cone. With an eccentric cone, if you look down the cone the circles won’t be aligned – the smaller diameter will be off-centre.

How do you make metal cones?

A variety of measurements are needed to make sure the cone is produced exactly as it should be, and precision is extremely important. When producing a truncated cone, the large and small diameter sizes are required, as well as the vertical height or the height of the slant, and the thickness of the metal – there’s a lot to consider. Other factors, such as the required tolerance allowance, also need to be considered. That’s why here at CSM, we take the time to plan and design a cone with its specific use in mind. So, if you ask CSM to produce a metal cone for you,  you know exactly what you’ll be getting ahead of time.

Once the drawings and dimensions are finalised, the template of the cone can be cut. The sheet metal used is then bent either by rolling or by press braking – which is where the metal is essentially  pressed on a V-block in order to bend it. The edges are then welded together to seal the conical shape. After welding, the cone will be calibrated before cutting it down to its final length.

If you need cones produced for your business, it’s important to consult with specialists such as CSM at an early stage. Any miscalculations could lead to wastage – both of the metal and your time. However, if you undergo a consultation with our team beforehand, you can be confident that any cones you need to have produced will be done professionally, to a high standard, without needless metal waste. Involving specialists early should also save you time ultimately, and money on labour costs.

With CSM, you can rest assured that the production of your cones will be in the best possible hands, and using the best quality metal.

Want to know more?

With over a quarter of a century’s experience in metalwork, we’re happy to produce any kind of bespoke metal for your needs.

If you’d like more about producing metal cones and their potential application for your business, or any of the other services that we offer, please  get in touch.

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