Forming is a basic idea in manufacturing and shaping materials. It’s about changing the shape of something—like metal, plastic, or other stuff—without cutting or removing parts. Instead, force is applied to make the material bend, stretch, or squeeze into a new form.

There are different ways forming works, depending on the method used. Here are a few common ones:

Bending – When you apply pressure to a material, it can fold or curve. Think of bending a paperclip into a new shape. The inside of the bend gets compressed, while the outside stretches.

Stretching – Pulling a material makes it longer or thinner. For example, pulling hot glass into a thin thread is a kind of stretching.

Compressing – Squeezing material from different sides can change its shape. Like pressing clay into a mold—it takes the form of the mold under pressure.

Rolling – Passing metal between rollers flattens or thins it. This is how sheets of steel are made.

The key in forming is that the material stays the same in weight and volume—it just gets rearranged. No extra material is added or taken away.

Different materials need different amounts of force. Soft metals like aluminum form easily, while harder metals need more pressure or heat. Temperature matters too—some materials become easier to shape when heated.

Overall, forming is a simple but important process in making things. It’s used in everything from car parts to soda cans. The main idea? Change the shape without losing material. That’s the basic principle.