Rubber Pad Forming

A sheet metal forming operation for shallow parts in which a confined, pliable rubber pad attached to the press slide (ram) is forced by hydraulic pressure to become a mating die for a punch or group of punches placed on the press bed or baseplate. Developed in the aircraft industry for the limited production of a large number of diversified parts, the process is limited to the forming of relatively shallow parts, normally not exceeding 40 mm (1.5 in.) deep. Also known as the Guerin process. Variations of the Guerin process include the Marforming process, the fluid-cell process, and fluid forming.

Source: The OHIO State University