The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet-metal part from a panel or a semifinished part made of a material consisting of steel with at least 60 wt. % Fe and a residual austenite content of at least 5%, in which the panel or the semifinished part is at least partially cooled to a temperature below 20 C. before the shaping and is shaped at a temperature below 20 C. in a forming tool. The object of providing a method for producing load-compliantly configured components, which on the one hand permits industrial-scale use of low-temperature forming and is configured particularly simply, is achieved by reducing the material temperature of the panel or semifinished part to below 20 C. is carried out in a thermally regulated cooling apparatus.

The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet-metal part from a panel or a semifinished part made of a material consisting of steel with at least 60 wt. % Fe and a residual austenite content of at least 5%, in which the panel or the semifinished part is at least partially cooled to a temperature below 20 C. before the shaping and is shaped at a temperature below 20 C. in a forming tool. The object of providing a method for producing load-compliantly configured components, which on the one hand permits industrial-scale use of low-temperature forming and is configured particularly simply, is achieved by reducing the material temperature of the panel or semifinished part to below 20 C. is carried out in a thermally regulated cooling apparatus.

The present invention is directed to an integral planet carrier with no joints, a method of manufacturing it and an apparatus for doing so. Such integrally manufactured components have better strength than a conventionally produced multi-piece jointed planet carriers or integral planet carriers made from casting process. The present invention provides a hot forging process which can be used for the manufacturing of the planet carrier. The manufacturing process comprises of forward extrusion of a billet followed by backward extrusion. This is followed by bending operation, which is in turn followed by a flattening operation. Post-forging heat treatment and other treatments such as shot blasting follow. Finally machining is carried out to arrive at the final integrally formed planet carrier. The forward extrusion, backward extrusion, bending and flattening operations are done on a press or hammer having sufficient energy and load capacity. Preferably these operations are performed on a hydraulic press in order to achieve the required accuracy and precision.

The present invention relates to a heat-resistant Ti alloy having excellent high-temperature strength and a process for producing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat-resistant Ti alloy having a composite structure having an equiaxed phase and grains containing an acicular phase inside thereof, and a process for producing the same.

A forging apparatus and a forged product manufacturing method aim to prevent decrease in the temperature of a forging space and the temperature of a forging material, efficiently maintain the uniformity of the temperatures of upper and lower dies, and improve forging efficiency. In the forging apparatus and the forged product manufacturing method according to the present invention, the upper and lower dies are heated by a heating mechanism in a housing in which a charging port of an integrally formed housing body is closed by a door, the upper and lower dies are moved relatively in a facing direction of the upper and lower dies, the heating mechanism is moved relatively in the facing direction with respect to at least one of the relatively moving upper and lower dies, and whereby the forging material is forged between the upper and lower dies. Furthermore, the forged product manufacturing method is used to manufacture a forged product from the forging material.

A forging apparatus and a forged product manufacturing method aim to prevent decrease in the temperature of a forging space and the temperature of a forging material, efficiently maintain the uniformity of the temperatures of upper and lower dies, and improve forging efficiency. In the forging apparatus and the forged product manufacturing method according to the present invention, the upper and lower dies are heated by a heating mechanism in a housing in which a charging port of an integrally formed housing body is closed by a door, the upper and lower dies are moved relatively in a facing direction of the upper and lower dies, the heating mechanism is moved relatively in the facing direction with respect to at least one of the relatively moving upper and lower dies, and whereby the forging material is forged between the upper and lower dies. Furthermore, the forged product manufacturing method is used to manufacture a forged product from the forging material.

A method of manufacturing an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal includes forming cup and shaft members of medium carbon steel, preparing, as the cup member, a cup member having cylindrical and bottom portions integrally formed by forging, and a joining end surface formed on an outer surface of the bottom portion after the forging, preparing, as the shaft member, a shaft member having a joining end surface to be joined to the bottom portion of the cup member, and bringing the joining end surfaces of the cup and shaft members into abutment against each other. The method also includes welding the cup and shaft members from an outer side of the cup member to an abutment portion between the cup and shaft members in a radial direction of the cup member.

A method of manufacturing an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal includes forming cup and shaft members of medium carbon steel, preparing, as the cup member, a cup member having cylindrical and bottom portions integrally formed by forging, and a joining end surface formed on an outer surface of the bottom portion after the forging, preparing, as the shaft member, a shaft member having a joining end surface to be joined to the bottom portion of the cup member, and bringing the joining end surfaces of the cup and shaft members into abutment against each other. The method also includes welding the cup and shaft members from an outer side of the cup member to an abutment portion between the cup and shaft members in a radial direction of the cup member.

A process for producing a component from a TiAl alloy by two-stage isothermal forging and to a component produced thereby. The process comprises a first isothermal forging of a component precursor at a temperature of at least about 1180 C., an intermediate annealing of the forged precursor at a temperature ranging from about 1130 C. to 1170 C. for about 1 to 8 hours and a subsequent second isothermal forging at a temperature of at least about 1180 C. with a degree of forming which is lower than the degree of forming in the first isothermal forging.

A crankshaft with improved fatigue strength and machinability is provided. The crankshaft includes a pin and journal, having a chemical composition of, in mass %: 0.40 to 0.60% C; 0.01 to 1.50% Si; 0.4 to 2.0% Mn; 0.01 to 0.50% Cr; 0.20 to 0.50% Al; 0.001 to 0.02% N; up to 0.03% P; 0.005 to 0.20% S; 0.005 to 0.060% Nb; 0 to 0.060% Ti; and balance Fe and impurities, wherein, for each of the pin and journal, the hardness measured at a position at a depth of ? of the diameter from the surface is higher than HV 245, the microstructure at that position is mainly composed of ferrite/pearlite, and the fraction of ferrite is not lower than 16%.