high Velocity Impact

The Genius of Leonardo

What does adiabatic cutting have in common with helicopters, parachutes, and the Mona Lisa? According to some researchers,a form of adiabatic cutting was first devised by Leonardo da Vinci; however, like many of his inventions, it did not come into practical existence until a means of sufficient power was developed.

Adiabatic softening became a reality nearly five centuries later when scientist rediscovered the phenomenon. They found that when sufficient kinetic energy (mass and speed) was applied to a projectile, it would penetrate metal plate leaving comparatively little distortion to the surrounding area.

Development of High Velocity Impact

In the earliest stages of the research, the potential of high velocity impact in the metal cutting and forming industries was apparent and the goal among researchers in the industrialized nations was to perfect and commercialize the process. However, their goal to reliably duplicate the process in a controlled environment faced two substantial obstacles.

In adiabatic cutoff, one of the first hurdles researchers had to overcome was to create sufficient energy to reliably reproduce the adiabatic softening phenomenon. Initially, explosives were used to provide the necessary energy; and while the adiabatic phenomenon was reproduced, the limits and risks of using explosives in a manufacturing environment were quickly recognized.

Other methods of producing energy were investigated with varying results; however, with the success of finding stable sources of energy, the second hurdle became obvious which was the ability to incrementally control the energy to match the need.

Failure to control energy can result in damaged equipment and destroyed tooling. This meant the process used to produce the energy had to have limits that could be set according to the application.

An evolved technology:
first air and springs and then Hydraulics

Over several decades, the search continued for an energy source that could be sufficiently controlled. Two sources of energy that helped bring high velocity impact technology into the market were compressed air and springs. However, another method of producing the necessary energy had to be developed because definable and measurable control of the energy continued to be a key factor in the success of this technology.

Hydropulsor's high velocity impact technology was founded as a result of the confusion caused by compressed air and springs and how to incrementally apply them according to the needs of the application. Hydropulsor engineers refined existing technology and developed a hydraulic press system capable of providing controlled energy which meant longer machine life and longer tooling life. It also meant an expansion of the high velocity impact system from standard adiabatic cutoff, to a very successful powder compaction system.

At HVIT, and in conjunction with industry and academia, we continue to expand this high velocity impact system into new markets and new machines with emphasis being placed on customer satisfaction, increased productivity, quality, reliability, ease of use, and sound economic and environmental applications.