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Forming Technical Bulletins

The following Forming Technical Bulletins offer detailed information and recommendations on the use of BlueScope Steel products. A summary of the contents of each Forming Technical Bulletin (FTB) is included for your reference.

Also available are General Technical Bulletins and Corrosion Technical Bulletins.

Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 1 - Lubrication of Steel Sheet and Strip for Forming (398 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • The need for lubricants
  • Surface Characteristics
  • Lubrication modes
  • Lubricant functions
  • Lubricant considerations
  • Types of lubricants
  • Comparison of lubricants
  • Lubrication Modes


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 2 - Shearing and Slitting Steel Sheet and Strip (385 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Shearing and slitting processes
  • Straight Blade Shearing
  • Rotary Shearing
  • Shear Lines
  • Slitting
  • Slit-shearing


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 3 - Punching and Piercing Steel Sheet and Strip (392 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Punching and piercing operations
  • Mechanism of punching
  • Punch and die clearances
  • Tool wear
  • Tool size
  • WStripping
  • Shearing force
  • Power requirements
  • Tool construction
  • Lubrication
  • COLORBOND® steel products
  • Electrical Steels
  • Fine blanking

Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 4 - Bending Steel Sheet and Strip Products (558 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Bending operations
  • Folding
  • Press-brake forming
  • Press bending
  • Bending methods
  • Die design
  • Precautions
  • Material characteristics and allowances
  • Bending organic finished material
  • Automated bending systems


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 5 - Roll Forming Steel Strip (564 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • The roll-forming process
  • Equipment
  • Roll design
  • Roll-former design versus product design
  • Roll-forming high strength steel strip


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 6 - Lock Seaming Steel Sheet and Strip (229 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Lock-seam types
  • Pittsburgh lock-seam
  • Machines
  • Double seam
  • Button punch snap lock seam
  • Manufacture of ductwork
  • Machine settings
  • General
  • Forming problems
  • Strip product for lock-seaming


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 7 - Press Forming Steel Sheet and Strip (389 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Press-forming - the process
  • Presses
  • Dies
  • Die design
  • Press loads
  • Blanks
  • Press operation
  • Lubrication
  • Press Performance
  • Correction of problems during pressing


Download Forming Technical Bulletin FTB 8 - Spinning and Flowturning Steel Sheet and Strip (383 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Spinning and flow turning process
  • Spinning and flow turning techniques
  • Flow turning
  • Forming variables
  • Selection of product for spinning
  • Advantages of spinning and flow turning
  • Expansion joints


Download Forming Technical Bulleting FTB 9 - Tank Fabrication (225 KB)
Rev 2, November 2003

  • Sealing of water tanks
  • Tank installation
  • Tank lids
  • Painting of exterior tanks walls
  • Accessories
  • Important points