A
Adhesive Bonding (Non-Permanent / Alternative Process)
A joining method that uses glues, resins, or epoxies to bond parts together. While effective for some plastics or composites, adhesives can degrade over time — unlike Orbitform’s permanent assembly methods such as orbital or radial forming.
Articulating Roller Forming (Orbitform Process)
A roller forming method where the rollers pivot or articulate to reach complex geometries or angled features. Ideal for forming parts with offset or non-concentric surfaces. more info
B
Bushing Flare (Orbitform Process)
A cold forming process that expands or flares one end of a bushing to lock it into place. Often used in automotive suspension and pivot joints. more info
Bushing Swaging (Similar Term)
A general term some manufacturers use interchangeably with bushing flare or roller forming, though true swaging typically involves more radial force and less controlled material flow.
C
Caulking (Alternate Term / Common Mislabel)
In metal forming, “caulking” is sometimes used to describe what Orbitform calls orbital forming — especially in industries like automotive seat or window assembly. True caulking refers to a compressive sealing process, not material flow forming.
Clinching (Competing Process)
A cold-forming sheet metal joining process that mechanically interlocks materials without a rivet or fastener. Unlike orbital or impact riveting, clinching does not allow for precise force control or aesthetic surface finishes. more info
Cold Heading (General Term)
A bulk metal forming process used to create rivets, bolts, and fasteners by upsetting wire. While not an assembly process, it’s the upstream operation that produces many components that Orbitform equipment later installs.
Coining (Related Process)
A Precision metal forming process that uses high pressure to create detailed shapes or impressions on a workpiece without removing material.
Cold forming (General Term)
A metal shaping process performed at or near room temperature, using mechanical force to form parts without heating, which increases strength and improves surface finish.
Crimping (Related Process)
A process that joins or secures materials by deforming one or both of them, typically using a tool or die, to create a tight mechanical connection.
D
Deformation Joining (General Term)
A category of joining methods — including riveting, orbital forming, radial forming, and flaring — that rely on plastic deformation to create a permanent mechanical joint.
Dimpling (Related Term)
A sheet metal forming operation that creates a recess for a flush fastener or joint. Sometimes confused with orbital forming, but dimpling is typically a single-stage press operation, not a controlled forming process.
F
Flaring (Similar Concept)
The expansion of a tube or sleeve end by mechanical force. Orbitform’s bushing flare and roller forming processes are precision forms of flaring.
Fastening (General Term)
Any method used to mechanically join components, including screws, bolts, rivets, and Orbitform’s permanent forming techniques.
Flanged (General Term)
A forming process that bends the edge of a sheet or plate outward or upward to create a rim or flange, often used to strengthen or join parts.
Forming (General Term)
Forming - process that shapes metal or other materials into a desired geometry without adding or removing material. It uses mechanical forces—like bending, pressing, rolling, or spinning—to change the material’s shape while maintaining its volume.
H
Hot Upset Forming (Orbitform Process)
A permanent joining method using both heat and pressure to plastically deform and bond components. It achieves strong metallurgical bonds ideal for heavy-duty or high-load applications. more info
Hydraulic Swaging (Competing Process)
Uses fluid pressure to deform metal fittings or sleeves, often used for cable or hose assemblies. Unlike Orbitform forming, hydraulic swaging lacks in-process control and precision for complex assemblies.
Hot Forming (General Term)
A metal shaping process performed at elevated temperatures, making the material more malleable to form complex shapes while reducing the risk of cracking.
I
Impact Riveting (Orbitform Process)
A fast, high-force riveting process that uses a single impact to set a rivet. Best for high-volume production with consistent materials and joint requirements. more info
Insertion Pressing (Similar Term)
A press-fit process where parts are pressed together without deformation. Unlike impact riveting, it relies on frictional interference, not material flow, to hold parts.
M
Mechanical Joining (General Term)
A category that includes riveting, crimping, and forming processes. Orbitform specializes in permanent mechanical joining — achieving joints that don’t loosen or require re-torquing.
Metal Staking (Alternate Term / Common Search Term)
A widely used term for deforming or upsetting material to hold a component in place — often referring to orbital, radial, or impact forming, depending on the industry. Orbitform’s orbital and radial forming systems are advanced, controlled versions of the staking process.
O
Orbital Forming (Orbitform Core Process)
A cold forming process using a spinning peen to gradually deform material. Produces smooth, repeatable joints with minimal stress — often confused with staking or caulking.
more info
Orbital Riveting (Similar Term)
Essentially synonymous with orbital forming when used to describe the setting of rivets rather than forming of material. more info
P
Press Riveting (Similar Term)
A joining process where a rivet is deformed under steady pressure rather than impact or orbital motion. Offers less control over surface finish and force than Orbitform’s processes. more info
Projection Welding (Alternative Process)
An electrical resistance welding process for joining metal parts using heat and pressure. Provides strong joints but lacks the aesthetics and repeatability of cold-forming methods.
Plastic Deformation (Technical Term)
The permanent change in shape of a material under applied force — the fundamental principle behind Orbitform’s forming and riveting technologies.
Pop Riveting (Blind Riveting) (Competing Process)
Uses a mandrel to set rivets from one side of an assembly. Common in sheet metal but not suitable for high-precision or high-strength joints like those produced with Orbitform’s equipment.
Press-Fit Assembly (Alternative Process)
Joins components through interference fit, requiring no deformation. Simpler than forming, but less reliable under vibration or load.
Pivot Joint Testing (Orbitform Product Line)
A specialized test system that validates torque, rotation, and consistency in hinge or pivot assemblies. more info
Peening (Alternative Process)
A process that strengthens or shapes metal by repeatedly striking its surface, creating compressive stresses to improve durability and resistance to fatigue.
Pressing (Orbitform Process)
process that uses a press to apply force on a material to shape, cut, or emboss it into a desired form. more info
R
Radial Forming (Orbitform Process)
A gentle forming method where the tool follows a rosette motion, ideal for fragile or decorative assemblies. Sometimes mistaken for staking, though it applies force in a unique orbital path. more info
Roller Burnishing (Related Process)
A surface-finishing method using rolling contact to smooth material. While visually similar to roller forming, it doesn’t create a joint — only improves finish.
Roller Forming (Orbitform Process)
A precision forming process using rollers that progressively shape the material. Used for sealing, lip forming, or grooving — available in both static and articulating configurations. more info
Roto-Peening (Misused Term)
Sometimes confused with orbital forming but actually refers to surface treatment using rotating shot media, not joining.
Riveting (General Term)
A joining process that fastens two or more materials together by inserting a metal pin (rivet) and deforming its ends to hold the pieces securely.
Rolling (Alternate Process)
A process in which metal is passed through one or more rollers to reduce thickness, improve surface finish, or achieve a desired shape.
S
Spin Riveting / Spin Forming (Similar Term)
Describes processes that use rotation to form material — often a generic way to refer to orbital or radial forming. Orbitform’s equipment offers controlled versions of spin forming, featuring programmable force and motion.
Spinning (General Term)
A forming process where a flat or hollow metal blank is rotated on a lathe and shaped over a mandrel using tools, producing symmetrical, round parts like cones, cylinders, or domes.
Static Roller Forming (Orbitform Process)
A roller forming method where fixed-position rollers apply symmetrical, non-impact force to shape the part. Ideal for creating clean, uniform lips or flanges—especially on cylindrical or delicate components requiring precision and repeatability. more info
Staking (Alternate Term / Common Search Term)
A general term for forming or deforming a post, boss, or rivet to retain another part. Orbitform’s orbital and radial forming are refined staking methods with controlled motion and force feedback.
Swaging (Related but Different)
A metal forming process that reduces or reshapes diameter using dies or rollers. While swaging reshapes parts, Orbitform’s forming processes assemble them.
T
Torque Testing (Orbitform Product)
Measuring the rotational resistance of pivot joints or fasteners. Orbitform’s pivot joint testers provide precise torque and angle validation for moving assemblies. more info
Thermal Staking (Alternative Process)
A process using heat to melt and reform thermoplastic bosses to retain components. Orbitform’s forming processes offer a cold, metal-based equivalent for permanent mechanical joints.
W
Welding (Alternative Process)
A joining process that fuses materials using heat, pressure, or both. Orbitform’s forming solutions are mechanical alternatives to welding — ideal when heat distortion, material compatibility, or aesthetics are concerns.
Work Hardening (Technical Concept)
The strengthening of metal through plastic deformation. Controlled forming — such as orbital or radial forming — uses this principle to achieve stronger, more consistent joints. Clinching - mechanical joining process that connects sheet materials by locally deforming them to form an interlocking joint without using fasteners or heat.