A hybrid method for forming a material blank includes placing a material blank to be deformed between a die and a blank-holder. The material blank is deformed by stamping using at least one punch in order to obtain a pre-stamped material blank. A cavity, wherein, on one hand, the at least one punch having pre-stamped the material blank and, on the other, at least one pair of electrodes are located, is filled with liquid. The pre-stamped material blank is placed in contact with the liquid of the cavity, and at least one electrical discharge is generated between the at least one pair of electrodes in such a way as to deform the pre-stamped material blank against the die.

A forming die includes a first die component with a male bead and a second die component with a female bead. The male bead and the female bead form a bead with a reverse bead geometry with the male bead having a groove and the female bead having a protrusion complimentary with the groove such that the protrusion is aligned with the groove when the male bead extends into the female bead. The male bead includes a push surface, a pair of sidewalls extending from the push surface to a main surface of the first die component, and the groove extends inwardly into the rib. And the female bead includes a stop surface and a pair of sidewalls extending from the stop surface to a main surface of the second die component, and the protrusion extends outwardly from the stop surface into the female bead.

A can body maker includes a ram shaft extending in a front-rear direction, a punch disposed at a front end portion of the ram shaft, a reciprocating linear motion mechanism connected to a rear end portion of the ram shaft to reciprocate and linearly move the ram shaft in the front-rear direction, a die having a through hole into which the punch is inserted, a cup holding mechanism which presses a cup-shaped body against an end face in which the through hole of the die opens, and a cup holder drive mechanism that oscillates the cup holding mechanism in the front-rear direction, wherein the cup holder drive mechanism has a cam structure and is disposed directly below the cup holding mechanism.

A method for manufacturing a semifinished product or component is disclosed in which a metal support embodied as a split strip is covered with at least one prepreg containing a thermally cross-linkable thermosetting matrix with endless fibers, the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg is pre-cross-linked by means of heating, and the metal support covered with the pre-cross-linked prepreg is formed into a semifinished product or component by means of roll forming. In order to enable plastic deformation in fiber-reinforced regions of the metal support, it is proposed that during the pre-cross-linking of the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg, its matrix is transferred into a viscosity state that is higher than its minimum viscosity and prior to reaching its gel point, the prepreg is formed together with the metal support.

A method for manufacturing a semifinished product or component is disclosed in which a metal support embodied as a split strip is covered with at least one prepreg containing a thermally cross-linkable thermosetting matrix with endless fibers, the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg is pre-cross-linked by means of heating, and the metal support covered with the pre-cross-linked prepreg is formed into a semifinished product or component by means of roll forming. In order to enable plastic deformation in fiber-reinforced regions of the metal support, it is proposed that during the pre-cross-linking of the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg, its matrix is transferred into a viscosity state that is higher than its minimum viscosity and prior to reaching its gel point, the prepreg is formed together with the metal support.

A springback variation cause analysis method includes: calculating a first stress distribution in a press forming part; calculating a second stress distribution in the press forming part; calculating a difference between the second and the first stress distribution, and replacing and setting the first or the second stress distribution with the calculated stress difference distribution; calculating a first springback amount to be caused in the press forming part; changing a value of stress difference in a partial area of the press forming part in the stress difference distribution set for the press forming part; calculating a second springback amount; and analyzing a portion in the press forming part that is a cause of variation in springback amount in the press forming part due to scattering or variation in press forming conditions, based on the second springback amount and the first springback amount.

A method of forming a forming mold screen including providing a die plate defining a plate contour and a die center point. A screen is disposed on the die plate. A retainer plate secured to the die plate defines an opening having a retainer center point substantially aligned with the die center point. The screen is disposed between the die plate and the retainer plate and substantially defines a plane. A nested punch unit inserted into the opening includes an inner punch and an outer punch disposed around the inner punch. The inner punch and the outer punch are aligned along an axis substantially aligned with the retainer center point. The screen pressed with the nested punch unit includes pressing the screen with the inner punch followed by pressing the screen with the outer punch.

Disclosed herein is a light-gauge, ultra-high strength weathering steel sheet with a composition, material properties, and surface characteristics that make it suitable for hot-stamping applications and making hot-stamped products. Also disclosed herein is a high friction rolled carbon alloy steel strip free of prior austenite grain boundary depressions and having a smear pattern. Still further disclosed herein is a high friction rolled carbon alloy steel strip that has been surface homogenized to provide a thin cast steel strip free of a smear pattern.

The present invention is directed to a dual sided incremental sheet forming apparatus and method for incrementally forming sheet materials such as sheet metal by utilizing opposed primary and secondary forming tool assemblies and a sheet feeding assembly. The primary forming tool assembly includes a rigid tool and the secondary forming tool assembly includes a compressible and resilient backing layer having either a cylindrical or flat configuration. The sheet feeding assembly positions the sheet material between the two forming tools. The rigid tool applies force to one surface of the sheet material while the resilient backing tool applies counter force to the opposite surface of the work piece as it supports the work piece. This dual sided process localizes the forces on the sheet material so that stresses are advantageously controlled to produce accurately formed asymmetric shapes, without the need for expensive dies. The use of a rigid tool with an opposed resilient backing tool both having linear independent motion also avoids potential wrinkling and tearing of the resulting work piece and enables the formation of numerous, highly detained asymmetric products.

The present invention is directed to a dual sided incremental sheet forming apparatus and method for incrementally forming sheet materials such as sheet metal by utilizing opposed primary and secondary forming tool assemblies and a sheet feeding assembly. The primary forming tool assembly includes a rigid tool and the secondary forming tool assembly includes a compressible and resilient backing layer having either a cylindrical or flat configuration. The sheet feeding assembly positions the sheet material between the two forming tools. The rigid tool applies force to one surface of the sheet material while the resilient backing tool applies counter force to the opposite surface of the work piece as it supports the work piece. This dual sided process localizes the forces on the sheet material so that stresses are advantageously controlled to produce accurately formed asymmetric shapes, without the need for expensive dies. The use of a rigid tool with an opposed resilient backing tool both having linear independent motion also avoids potential wrinkling and tearing of the resulting work piece and enables the formation of numerous, highly detained asymmetric products.