A cut-to-length steel coil processing line has an un-coiling reel, a temper mill, a stretcher leveler, a shearer, and a stacking apparatus arranged to sequentially process a continuous length of sheet metal. The line may be configured such that the continuous length of the sheet metal is directed from the uncoiling reel through the temper mill to the stacking apparatus without processing through the stretcher leveler when a determined thickness of the continuous length of sheet metal is at or below a selected measurement criteria. In the alternative, the line may be configured such that the continuous length of the sheet metal is directed from the uncoiling reel through the stretcher leveler to the stacking apparatus without processing through the temper mill when the determined thickness of the continuous length of sheet metal is greater than the selected measurement criteria.

A cut-to-length steel coil processing line has an un-coiling reel, a temper mill, a stretcher leveler, a shearer, and a stacking apparatus arranged to sequentially process a continuous length of sheet metal. The line may be configured such that the continuous length of the sheet metal is directed from the uncoiling reel through the temper mill to the stacking apparatus without processing through the stretcher leveler when a determined thickness of the continuous length of sheet metal is at or below a selected measurement criteria. In the alternative, the line may be configured such that the continuous length of the sheet metal is directed from the uncoiling reel through the stretcher leveler to the stacking apparatus without processing through the temper mill when the determined thickness of the continuous length of sheet metal is greater than the selected measurement criteria.

Disclosed is a machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching, the machine includes: two stretch heads located on either side of a forming tool for the sheet, the stretch heads each including a line of grippers integral with a support structure which is associated with way of stretching and which is mounted on a chassis by the intermediary of a tipping axis; at least one tipping cylinder being inserted between the chassis and the support structure, in order to allow for the maneuvering in rotation of the support structure about the tipping axis; and the chassis being carried by a support frame. The stretching machine includes a unit, inserted between the support frame and the chassis, arranged to allow for an adjusting of the vertical positioning of the tipping axis.

Disclosed is a machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching, the machine includes: two stretch heads located on either side of a forming tool for the sheet, the stretch heads each including a line of grippers integral with a support structure which is associated with way of stretching and which is mounted on a chassis by the intermediary of a tipping axis; at least one tipping cylinder being inserted between the chassis and the support structure, in order to allow for the maneuvering in rotation of the support structure about the tipping axis; and the chassis being carried by a support frame. The stretching machine includes a unit, inserted between the support frame and the chassis, arranged to allow for an adjusting of the vertical positioning of the tipping axis.

A formed blank is provided. The formed blank includes a stretched portion and/or a truncated protrusion, a tooling assembly structured to form a formed blank including a stretched portion and/or a truncated protrusion, and a method of forming a formed blank including a stretched portion and/or a truncated protrusion. The formed blank includes a base and a depending sidewall. The stretched portion and/or the truncated protrusion is disposed on the formed blank base and the thickness of the stretched portion and/or the truncated protrusion is less than the sidewall. The stretched portion and/or the truncated protrusion utilizes less material relative to an unformed base that has about the same thickness as the sidewall.

A method for straightening a distortion of a component by way of a straightening device is provided. The straightening device includes a clamping element for clamping in the component, a straightening element for introducing a straightening force into the component, and an anvil element for supporting the component during the introduction of the straightening force. Furthermore, a straightening device for straightening a distortion of a component is provided. The straightening device includes a clamping element for clamping in the component, a straightening element for introducing a straightening force into the component, an anvil element for supporting the component during the introduction of the straightening force, and a control element for operating the straightening device.

A press forming method of press forming a formed part including a top portion having a concave outer edge with a part of the outer edge being concave inwards and a flange portion subjected to bending forming along the concave outer edge of the top portion includes: a first forming step of forming a preformed shape part including, in a part where the flange portion is formed in a blank material, a vertical wall portion that becomes a part of the flange portion and a mountain shaped portion that is bent outwards from the vertical wall portion and is convex towards the top portion; and a second forming step of forming the flange portion by performing bending forming on a part including the mountain shaped portion of the preformed shape part formed at the first forming step along a bending line that is a boundary from the vertical wall portion.

A press forming method of press forming a formed part including a top portion having a concave outer edge with a part of the outer edge being concave inwards and a flange portion subjected to bending forming along the concave outer edge of the top portion includes: a first forming step of forming a preformed shape part including, in a part where the flange portion is formed in a blank material, a vertical wall portion that becomes a part of the flange portion and a mountain shaped portion that is bent outwards from the vertical wall portion and is convex towards the top portion; and a second forming step of forming the flange portion by performing bending forming on a part including the mountain shaped portion of the preformed shape part formed at the first forming step along a bending line that is a boundary from the vertical wall portion.

A method for producing a shaped sheet metal component having wall thicknesses differing from each other is disclosed including providing a sheet metal material having a constant wall thickness, pre-shaping the sheet metal material into a preform by means of a hold-down press, producing at least one bulge in an inner region such that the material is stretched and has a reduced wall thickness, flattening and/or extending the produced preform, cutting the sheet metal material in order to form a blank before, during, or after the pre-shaping, and shaping the blank into the shaped sheet metal component.

A method for producing a shaped sheet metal component having wall thicknesses differing from each other is disclosed including providing a sheet metal material having a constant wall thickness, pre-shaping the sheet metal material into a preform by means of a hold-down press, producing at least one bulge in an inner region such that the material is stretched and has a reduced wall thickness, flattening and/or extending the produced preform, cutting the sheet metal material in order to form a blank before, during, or after the pre-shaping, and shaping the blank into the shaped sheet metal component.