How They Make Stainless Steel Spheres

There has been a small clip of an explosive going off in large spheres in various video compilations on Youtube late 2021. I did not know what the clip was or what was happening. So I started doing some research to explain it.

I found a company in China who makes Stainless Steel Spheres for art sculptures. The companies name is Shenzhen Maoping Sculpture Arts, they have been making stainless steel sphere for 23 years and can create any size stainless Steel sphere up to 20 feet in diameter, all crafted by hand.

it can take about 15 days for a 6 foot diameter sphere.

Based off my research, there seems to be 4 common ways to create a hollow metal sphere, Spinning, Mold Pressing, Water Pressure Hydroforming and Explosive Hydroforming.

This video shows explains what the compilation video was and shows the process of how to make a Stainless Steel Sphere using the Water Pressure Hydroforming method from start to finish.

Thanks for watching.

The 4 ways are = Spinning, Mould pressing, Water pressure Hydroforming and Explosive Hydroforming.

► SPINNING is like working on a lathe, they attach a flat round blank onto a machine, while the blank is spinning at high speed, they use various types of tools to start pressing down the blank into a hemisphere and then weld 2 hemispheres together creating a sphere. This method uses the skills of an artisan to create the hemisphere, and a lot of labour. But Larger companies will use a robot or CNC machine to do the hemisphere forming.

► MOLD PRESSING is just what it sounds like, they use a big hydraulic press and press a metal blank into mould and form the hemisphere that way, and then weld 2 hemispheres together.

► WATER PRESSURE HYDROFORMING is when you create a sphere using either flat or slighting curved pieces of metal into a large polygon sphere, and then using a hose and pump to send lots of water into the sphere under high pressure, forcing the sphere into shape. During this processes they can find any holes in the welds they created and seal them up.

► EXPLOSIVE HYDROFORMING is where you have a large polygon looking sphere made out of curved plates, the sphere is then filled with water and a small explosive charge, and when you set off the charge, the explosive force of the water forces the sphere into shape.

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[JosephDalrymple]

2:38 I imagine the caps at the top of the spheres when explosive hydroforming are probably designed to release at a pressure that's high enough to allow the forming to occur, but not high enough to destroy the sphere. Very interesting...

[AuthoritativeBanana]

So how much of the art is the artists who had the idea for it vs the craftsmen who actually created it? If the idea is amazing, iconic, and unique, then it doesn’t matter, both groups are impressive

[TMS]

@2:04 welding with no protection at all, why am i completely unsuprised

[murakami]

You’ve got a voice that’s easy to listen to, and the music isn’t intrusive. And of course, you know your stuff!

[greggreg]

True craftsmanship these things are amazing when they’re done and polished up, we should have more of them around the world🙏

[a_reptiledysfunction]

It’s really hard to admire welding done without eye protection

[esphilee]

Like many skills and arts, getting the shape is easy, getting the shine takes effort.

[blackwater]

These guys probably have one of the most satisfying jobs.

[judelarkin]

Now I really want to make an explosive hydroformed sphere!

[DonCarlione]

This is amazing to watch! Hydroforming! What an amazing idea 👌🏼

[meteorinc]

The editing in this video is next level! Seriously, your summarizing skills are on point. Thanks for putting it all together like this. Keep the awesome content coming, please!

[maopingliao]

Fast production, fast delivery, high quality

[evanfinch]

Of all factories to be fabricating in, this is a pretty cool one.

[nitrobreed]

Your videos are popping up for me everytime now

[spurgear]

Colin Fruze built a pulse jet using hydroforming. Pretty cool

[AGR]

i always wondered how they made stainless steel spheres

[ov]

Great video. I would never guess how it can be.

[DanteLevelsUp]

2:00 wow they are not afraid of the effects of the welding light on their skin or eyes. also I can see sugaring on those welds lol.

[AuxDub]

Who knew there was a demand for large polished spheres

[maopingliao]

many thanks. large stainless steel sphere from maoping