I remember back in metal shop seeing a metal spinning station and was fascinated. This is a process that takes a metal disk and by spinning it and applying pressure with a tool forming it over a pattern. While there are dedicated machines for this, it can also be done with a lathe. I suspect this method of manufacturing has diminished due to advances in press technology.
Basically any shape that can be first turned on a wood lathe can then have a metal version of it spun. Think things like cups, bowls or nose cones. It also works particularly well on parabolic shapes like reflectors. A quick Google search showed several metal fabrication shops in my area that advertised metal spinning, so maybe it isn’t a lost art after all. If you have a wood lathe maybe you should give metal spinning a try.
