The next-generation ShAPE machine has arrived at PNNL, where it will help prove the mettle of the ShAPE extrusion technique. ShAPE 2 is designed to allow researchers to produce larger, more complex extrusions.
Developed at PNNL, Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion, or ShAPE™, uses significantly less energy and can deliver components like wire, tubes and bars 10 times faster than conventional extrusion, with no sacrifice in quality.
Researchers at PNNL have increased the conductivity of copper wire by about five percent via a process called Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion. General Motors tested the wire for application in vehicle motor components.