Hubbing is a machining process used to create female dies for metalworking, thermoplastics, and ceramics. It involves making a male die, heating a metal piece, and pressing the male die against it to create a female die. The same male die can be used to make many female dies. Hubbing is commonly used to make coin molds and molds for jewelry, tools, and consumer goods.
Hubbing is a machining process used to make molds for metalworking. Using hub techniques, workers can create a mold or die which is then used to form new molds. While this process is commonly associated with metalworking, it can also be used to create molds for shaping or forming thermoplastics and ceramic pieces.
Metalworkers rely heavily on dies, or dies, to form and shape metal. They may use a male die, which has raised features along the surface so it can be used to press or stamp metal. These workers also use female molds, which have designs and patterns sunk into the surface so they can be used as a mould. Hubbing specifically refers to the process of creating female dies which are used to form and shape molten metal until it hardens.
During the hub, workers start by making a male nut. This mold is created using a lathe or metalworking tools and should feature a mirror image or the desired final pattern or design. By heating a second piece of metal and pressing the male die against it with great force, workers create female dies with the reverse image of the male die. This female nut is then cleaned or milled as needed to remove any remaining metal and create a clear image.
The same male die can be used to make many female dies during the hub process. It can also be kept in storage for future mold creation. Typically, these molds will require cleaning and milling between uses to clarify and preserve the image.
Traditionally, workers were forced to create female molds by carving or milling them from a solid piece of metal. The hub makes creating these molds easier and faster, and produces more consistent images. Using a single mold, workers can create dozens or even hundreds of identical female molds for casting or stamping. This not only improves overall quality control, but also reduces the cost of manufacturing these molds and allows more molds to be completed in a short period.
Hubbing is commonly used to make coin molds. Coins double sided or printed with a reverse image are often the result of an error during the hub. This process is also used to make molds for jewellery, tools and consumer goods. Hubbing can also be used to create molds for metal signs, or for stamped or embossed metal objects.
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