Pre‐forming Metal Sheets in U.S.A.: Description of an Entirely New Method of Rolling Plates to Double Curvatures

ALL‐METAL construction, mainly in aluminium alloy and with thin sheet covering or skin, has been nigh universal in the American aeroplane industry for a number of years. This industry has now to face three difficult problems. First, the utilization of sheet metal in building larger land and water aircraft than ever before attempted. Second, in meeting the transition stage from the production of smaller aeroplanes in, small quantities only, to moderate mass production. Third, in keeping down costs in the face of sharp rises in the price of materials and wages of labour. These problems have led in turn to important improvements and radical innovations in the methods of handling sheet metal. A brief review of modern American practice may therefore be of interest to British constructors, before describing a new method of rolling sheet and double curvatures in a special machine.