A plastic working method for a magnesium alloy, wherein the magnesium alloy is subjected to a friction stir process whereby a probe at the tip portion of a tool rotating around an axial line is press-fitted to the surface of the magnesium alloy, the magnesium alloy is heated and softened by friction between the magnesium alloy and the rotating tool, and the tool is moved parallel to the surface of the magnesium alloy while the tool is rotated with the probe in the press-fitted state. When the length in a first direction of the region of the magnesium alloy being plastically worked is A, and the amount of shrinkage of the magnesium alloy in the first direction due to the friction stir process is α, A+α is set as the length in the first direction of the region subjected to the friction stir process.

A plate-shaped workpiece forming method of post-machining a pocket (3) on a curved inner surface of a plate-shaped workpiece (2) in a state where the plate-shaped workpiece (2) curved by a curving machine (10) is spread flat. The method includes a curving step (A) of setting a net curve radius (R.sub.0) obtained by adding a curve radius contraction amount (R.sub.1) due to spring-in to a finished curve radius (R) of a plate-shaped workpiece (2), taking into account an amount of contraction of the curve radius of the plate-shaped workpiece (2) between before and after machining of a pocket (3) due to spring-in, and curving the plate-shaped workpiece (2) so as to achieve the net curve radius (R.sub.0); and a pocket machining step of post-machining the pocket (3) by flatly spreading the curved plate-shaped workpiece (2).

A plate-shaped workpiece forming method of post-machining a pocket (3) on a curved inner surface of a plate-shaped workpiece (2) in a state where the plate-shaped workpiece (2) curved by a curving machine (10) is spread flat. The method includes a curving step (A) of setting a net curve radius (R.sub.0) obtained by adding a curve radius contraction amount (R.sub.1) due to spring-in to a finished curve radius (R) of a plate-shaped workpiece (2), taking into account an amount of contraction of the curve radius of the plate-shaped workpiece (2) between before and after machining of a pocket (3) due to spring-in, and curving the plate-shaped workpiece (2) so as to achieve the net curve radius (R.sub.0); and a pocket machining step of post-machining the pocket (3) by flatly spreading the curved plate-shaped workpiece (2).

A heat exchanger includes a heat exchange tube including a bent section, and first and second sections. The bent section includes a section to be bent before bending, and the section to be bent includes a protruding section. A plane parallel to a length direction of a first header and parallel to a length direction of the first section, and also perpendicular to a width direction of the first section is a first plane before the bent section is bent. In the first plane, a minimum distance from a projection line of a first side edge of the protruding section to a projection line of a first side edge of the first section is H, and a minimum distance from the projection line of the first side edge of the first section to the projection line of the first side edge of another adjacent first section is L, and H≥L.

Systems and methods for forming a workpiece are disclosed. The system may include a fixture assembly for receiving a workpiece having opposing first and second surfaces, first and second tools, and a vibration source configured to vibrate the first and/or second tool. The first and second tools may be configured to move along first and second predetermined paths of motion as the first and/or second tool is vibrated by the vibration source and may exert force on the first and second surfaces to form the workpiece. The method may include vibrating a tool using a vibration source and moving the vibrating tool and another tool along first and second forming paths to form the workpiece. The vibration source may be an ultrasonic transducer and may vibrate the tool at a frequency of at least 1 kHz.

Devices and methods for bending or cutting implants are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that urges first and second portions of a modular bending or cutting template toward one another to bend or cut an implant disposed between the template portions. A linkage assembly can be included to provide a mechanical advantage in urging the template portions toward one another. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that, depending on direction of rotation, pushes or pulls a first modular template portion with respect to a second modular template portion to bend an implant disposed between the template portions in one direction or another direction. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a worm drive that rotates a cutting wheel with respect to a cutting plate to cut an implant inserted through openings formed in the cutting wheel and the cutting plate.

Devices and methods for bending or cutting implants are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that urges first and second portions of a modular bending or cutting template toward one another to bend or cut an implant disposed between the template portions. A linkage assembly can be included to provide a mechanical advantage in urging the template portions toward one another. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that, depending on direction of rotation, pushes or pulls a first modular template portion with respect to a second modular template portion to bend an implant disposed between the template portions in one direction or another direction. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a worm drive that rotates a cutting wheel with respect to a cutting plate to cut an implant inserted through openings formed in the cutting wheel and the cutting plate.

Devices and methods for bending or cutting implants are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that urges first and second portions of a modular bending or cutting template toward one another to bend or cut an implant disposed between the template portions. A linkage assembly can be included to provide a mechanical advantage in urging the template portions toward one another. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that, depending on direction of rotation, pushes or pulls a first modular template portion with respect to a second modular template portion to bend an implant disposed between the template portions in one direction or another direction. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a worm drive that rotates a cutting wheel with respect to a cutting plate to cut an implant inserted through openings formed in the cutting wheel and the cutting plate.

Devices and methods for bending or cutting implants are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that urges first and second portions of a modular bending or cutting template toward one another to bend or cut an implant disposed between the template portions. A linkage assembly can be included to provide a mechanical advantage in urging the template portions toward one another. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that, depending on direction of rotation, pushes or pulls a first modular template portion with respect to a second modular template portion to bend an implant disposed between the template portions in one direction or another direction. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a worm drive that rotates a cutting wheel with respect to a cutting plate to cut an implant inserted through openings formed in the cutting wheel and the cutting plate.

A plastic working method for a magnesium alloy, wherein the magnesium alloy is subjected to a friction stir process whereby a probe at the tip portion of a tool rotating around an axial line is press-fitted to the surface of the magnesium alloy, the magnesium alloy is heated and softened by friction between the magnesium alloy and the rotating tool, and the tool is moved parallel to the surface of the magnesium alloy while the tool is rotated with the probe in the press-fitted state. When the length in a first direction of the region of the magnesium alloy being plastically worked is A, and the amount of shrinkage of the magnesium alloy in the first direction due to the friction stir process is , A+ is set as the length in the first direction of the region subjected to the friction stir process.