[sunworksco]

I have a 4" OD x 32" length stainless-steel tube and would like to use an 1/8" thickness x 3/4" width x 72" length 304L stainless-steel plate. I would like to create a spiral type auger with these materials.
My question is can the stainless-steel plate be made malleable with heat and be wrapped around a 4" steel tube with the stainless steel plate spiralled edgewise, similar to a metal washer on a bolt?
I would be very greatful for any suggestions.
Thanks,
Giovanni

[Geof]

What you are wanting to make is called helicoid flighting and it is very difficult to make by hand. Heating stainless is not going to make it very malleable and even if it did the problem in making helicoid flighting is that bending thin material on edge is a problem because it tends to buckle sideways. You need a roller system that both supports the sides and forms it.

An alternative way to make your own flighting is to cut rings out of sheet metal or thing plate, then split them, pull the edges of the split to make them look like a big lockwasher and weld them all together along your length of tube.

[ErnieD]

Look at your Private Messages.

Ernie

[sunworksco]

Thank you guys for the brilliant information.
Making the sheet metal rings is probably the least path of resistance and expense for my crazy project.
I am building a scale model of a Jules Verne style dual steam engined snow-mobile.
Have a look at the 1929 Fordson Snow-Mobile with twin screw propulsion.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBjlSJf4274"]YouTube - Fordson Snow Machine - 1929 Concept[/nomedia]


Thanks,
Giovanni

[sunworksco]

I found the amazing spiral heliocoil machine!
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqGa_eqAJpw"]YouTube - R4 Flat bar spiralling[/nomedia]


Thanks,
Giovanni

[Geof]

I found the amazing spiral heliocoil machine!
[.......Giovanni

Simple when you have the quarter million dollar machine, or whatever it costs.

So you are making propellors for foamy solid water. What speed do you anticipate getting to?