A first step of setting a steel material heated to a temperature not lower than an A.sub.1 transformation point on a forming table and a second step of punching a ring-form member from the steel material and thereafter forming and quenching the ring-form member on the forming table are included. A press die is constructed to be dividable into an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. In the second step, the ring-form member is punched from a coil material by pressing a tip end portion of the inner cylinder and a tip end portion of the outer cylinder against the coil material. The punched ring-form member is formed and quenched by further pressing a tip end of the inner cylinder against the ring-form member while the ring-form member is held between the outer cylinder and a forming die.

A process of producing a partially hardened metallic formed part comprises: heating a semi-finished product of hardenable hot-formable steel sheet to a hardening temperature; hot-forming the heated semi-finished product in a combined hot-forming cutting device into a three-dimensional formed part; cutting the formed part in the combined hot-forming cutting device; pressure-hardening the formed part in the hot-forming cutting device into a hardened formed part such that a first partial region is hardened by rapid cooling and that a second partial region of the formed part is heat-treated so as to comprise a greater ductility and a lower strength than the first partial region, wherein the operation of cutting the formed part takes place at least in one of the first and second partial region. A combined hot-forming cutting device can be used to produce a metallic formed part.

A process of producing a partially hardened metallic formed part comprises: heating a semi-finished product of hardenable hot-formable steel sheet to a hardening temperature; hot-forming the heated semi-finished product in a combined hot-forming cutting device into a three-dimensional formed part; cutting the formed part in the combined hot-forming cutting device; pressure-hardening the formed part in the hot-forming cutting device into a hardened formed part such that a first partial region is hardened by rapid cooling and that a second partial region of the formed part is heat-treated so as to comprise a greater ductility and a lower strength than the first partial region, wherein the operation of cutting the formed part takes place at least in one of the first and second partial region. A combined hot-forming cutting device can be used to produce a metallic formed part.

An apparatus for trimming a sheet metal panel in a die set. A grinding tool including a grinding wheel driven by a rotary drive is used to grind away a shear affected zone from the trimmed edge formed by the trim steel. The grinding tool is disposed within a cavity defined by the reciprocating die and is oriented to grind away a shear affected zone as the reciprocating die moves the grinding tool into engagement with the trimmed edge.

An apparatus for trimming a sheet metal panel in a die set. A grinding tool including a grinding wheel driven by a rotary drive is used to grind away a shear affected zone from the trimmed edge formed by the trim steel. The grinding tool is disposed within a cavity defined by the reciprocating die and is oriented to grind away a shear affected zone as the reciprocating die moves the grinding tool into engagement with the trimmed edge.

A method of forming a finished stamped product includes positioning a blank on a blank holder between an upper die and a lower die, inserting a movable wedge block between the blank holder and the upper die to establish a first binder gap, and while the movable wedge block is inserted, performing a first strike of the blank by lowering the upper die a first distance to contact and partially form the blank, the movable wedge block limiting downward movement of the upper die relative to the lower die. After the first strike, withdrawing the movable wedge block to establish a second binder gap between the blank holder and the upper die, and while the movable wedge block is withdrawn, performing a second strike of the blank by lowering the upper die a second distance to finally form the blank into the finished product.

A method of forming a finished stamped product includes positioning a blank on a blank holder between an upper die and a lower die, inserting a movable wedge block between the blank holder and the upper die to establish a first binder gap, and while the movable wedge block is inserted, performing a first strike of the blank by lowering the upper die a first distance to contact and partially form the blank, the movable wedge block limiting downward movement of the upper die relative to the lower die. After the first strike, withdrawing the movable wedge block to establish a second binder gap between the blank holder and the upper die, and while the movable wedge block is withdrawn, performing a second strike of the blank by lowering the upper die a second distance to finally form the blank into the finished product.

A process of producing a partially hardened metallic formed part comprises: heating a semi-finished product of hardenable hot-formable steel sheet to a hardening temperature; hot-forming the heated semi-finished product in a combined hot-forming cutting device into a three-dimensional formed part; cutting the formed part in the combined hot-forming cutting device; pressure-hardening the formed part in the hot-forming cutting device into a hardened formed part such that a first partial region is hardened by rapid cooling and that a second partial region of the formed part is heat-treated so as to comprise a greater ductility and a lower strength than the first partial region, wherein the operation of cutting the formed part takes place at least in one of the first and second partial region. A combined hot-forming cutting device can be used to produce a metallic formed part.

An improved forged wheel trimming die, including a connecting rod, a lower die base lower plate, a bottom plate, a stripper guide pillar, a knockout rod, an ejector block, a lower die base stiffened plate, a lower die base upper plate, a lower die, a stripper plate, follow-up retainer plates, a shearing blade and a trimming rod. The improved forged wheel trimming die has the advantages that by adding two follow-up retainer plates to the stripper plate of the die, burrs of a forged wheel blank are constrained along the radial direction during the cutting, thereby avoiding breakage due to excessive deformation; in this way, the burrs can be protected from damage and knocked out successfully by the knockout rod after being cut off from the blank.

An improved forged wheel trimming die, including a connecting rod, a lower die base lower plate, a bottom plate, a stripper guide pillar, a knockout rod, an ejector block, a lower die base stiffened plate, a lower die base upper plate, a lower die, a stripper plate, follow-up retainer plates, a shearing blade and a trimming rod. The improved forged wheel trimming die has the advantages that by adding two follow-up retainer plates to the stripper plate of the die, burrs of a forged wheel blank are constrained along the radial direction during the cutting, thereby avoiding breakage due to excessive deformation; in this way, the burrs can be protected from damage and knocked out successfully by the knockout rod after being cut off from the blank.