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 method of bending a contoured metal sheet, the contoured metal sheet having a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the contoured metal sheet comprising: securing a first sheet section of the contoured metal sheet in a securing section between a securing surface of a securing member and an engagement surface of an engagement member; positioning at least part of a second sheet section of the contoured metal sheet in a forming section between a forming member having a pressing surface and a seating member having a seating surface; moving the forming section and the securing section relative to one another to: bend the first sheet section the selected angle relative to the second sheet section over a first bending edge; and feed the second sheet section from between the pressing surface and the seating surface, over a second bending edge, to between a forming surface and a backing surface; and positioning a following section substantially adjacent to the second bending edge to cooperate with the forming surface to engage and compress a portion of the second sheet section of the contoured metal sheet therebetween when the relative movement between the securing section and the forming section moves the backing surface to a position remote from the forming surface of the forming member.

Provided is a blank made of a steel and comprising at least two protruding regions (313) having an outer edge (311) protruding outward in in-plane directions, in which a softened part (320) is formed at least partially in the protruding regions (313) and the softened part (320) is formed in at least a part of the outer edge of the protruding regions (313), a Vickers hardness of the softened part (320) is lower than a Vickers hardness of a main portion region (310), and the blank comprises at least two of the protruding regions (313) having the softened part (320).

Provided, among other things, is a method of cutting and folding a planar substrate with a focused laser beam, directed from above the substrate, to form a shape with features in 3-dimensions, the method comprising: (a) executing from above laser cuts to the planar substrate so as to provide one or more a releasable segments; (b) executing from above one or more laser-executed upward folds to bend all or a portion of a releasable segment; and (c) executing from above one or more laser-executed downward folds to bend all or a portion of a releasable segment; wherein the cuts and folds are structured so that precursors to the 3D shape remain attached to the substrate while sufficient cuts and folds are made to form the 3D shape, and wherein the planar substrate is immobile during said steps (a) through (c), or is only moved in the plane of the substrate.

A roll stamping apparatus includes sets of rollers that rotate while facing each other so as to press opposite surfaces of a material which is continuously supplied to move between the rollers. The sets of rollers have molding portions with a stamping structure applied to outer surfaces so as to mold the material, wherein a plurality of sets of rollers are disposed along a movement direction of the material, the respective molding portions of the sets of rollers are formed to sequentially change a cross section of the material along the movement of the material, and the molding portion of at least one set of rollers before a final set of rollers through which the material finally passes is a set of over-molding rollers having a length in a circumferential direction longer than the molding portions of the final set of rollers.

A method for forming large titanium parts includes forming bends into a titanium plate for form a bent part. The bent part is then roll-formed to form contours into the bent part. The surfaces of the contoured part are rough-machined, and the part is then secured to a bladed form fixture. The bladed form fixture comprises a plurality of header boards that secure the part to the fixture. The fixture part is placed in a thermal vacuum furnace and a stress-relieving operation is performed. The part is removed from the fixture and final machining takes place.

A formed sheet metal material (100) and methods, tools (1, 2, 8) and apparatus for forming the sheet metal material (100) in which a pattern of projections and depressions are cold worked in a first portion (101) and, simultaneously, indicia (103) is embossed in a second portion (102) of the sheet material (100). The cold worked portion (101) is formed with the projections and depression configured and distributed such that lines drawn on a surface of the formed sheet material (100) between adjacent rows of projections and depressions are not rectilinear. The indicia (103) is indicative of the alignment between the tools (1, 2, 8).

A formed sheet metal material (100) and methods, tools (1, 2, 8) and apparatus for forming the sheet metal material (100) in which a pattern of projections and depressions are cold worked in a first portion (101) and, simultaneously, indicia (103) is embossed in a second portion (102) of the sheet material (100). The cold worked portion (101) is formed with the projections and depression configured and distributed such that lines drawn on a surface of the formed sheet material (100) between adjacent rows of projections and depressions are not rectilinear. The indicia (103) is indicative of the alignment between the tools (1, 2, 8).

A curved brace is described herein. In some embodiments, the curved brace includes a base plate that has a proximal segment with one or more fastener apertures that is configured to confront a vertical post, a distal segment located distal to the proximal segment that includes one or more fastener apertures that is configured to confront a lateral beam and a curved middle segment located between the proximal and distal segments. A support plate with a curved base as well as a curved free edge may be attached to the base plate. The curved middle segment of the base plate may have an apex facing the apex angle formed at the connection of the lateral beam to the support beam. Methods of using and manufacturing the curved brace are also described.

A method and system are provided for using induction heating to shape a work piece panel into a preselected shape. The method includes positioning a work piece panel near or in abutment with at least a first induction coil. Alternating current (AC) having a preselected amplitude and frequency can be passed through at least the first induction coil while the work piece panel is subjected to at least one preselected shaping condition. An alternating electromagnetic field produced by the AC current, can cause eddy current in the work piece panel that can heat it to a preselected temperature for a preselected period of time while subjected to the preselected shaping condition, thereby causing the work piece panel to attain the preselected shape. The alternating electromagnetic field can also create a repelling electromagnetic force between the coil and the work piece panel, which could be a shaping condition.