Provided herein is a method of hot gas forming and heat treatment for a Ti.sub.2AlNb-based alloy hollow thin-walled component, which pertains to the technical field of plastic forming manufacture of thin-walled components made from difficult-to-deformation materials, more particularly, a forming method of Ti.sub.2AlNb-based alloy hollow thin-walled components is involved. The purpose of this invention is to solve the existing problems that Ti.sub.2AlNb-based alloy hollow thin-walled components are difficult to form, process steps are complex, and the shape and dimension precision is in contradiction with the control of the microstructure and properties. The method comprises the following steps: (1) hot gas forming to obtain hot gas formed tube components, and (2) controllalbe-cooling heat treatment to obtain Ti.sub.2AlNb-based alloy hollow thin-walled components. The advantages of this invention are as following: improving production efficiency, high dimensional accuracy, reducing energy consumption, achieveing the integration of shape and performance control, and excellent mechanical properties. The invention also relates to Ti.sub.2AlNb-based alloy hollow thin-walled components manufactured by a hot gas forming and heat treatment method.

An apparatus for forming a part is provided, which includes a die. The die includes a round orifice, a central mandrel disposed within the round orifice, and a plurality of bridges and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges. The bridges and the portholes extending around the central mandrel. A spacing of the bridges around the mandrel is non-equiangular. The die allows a material to be extruded through the die to form a round, closed geometry tube from the material such that the round, closed geometry tube has non-equiangular welds after emerging from the die.

An apparatus for forming a part is provided, which includes a die. The die includes a round orifice, a central mandrel disposed within the round orifice, and a plurality of bridges and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges. The bridges and the portholes extending around the central mandrel. A spacing of the bridges around the mandrel is non-equiangular. The die allows a material to be extruded through the die to form a round, closed geometry tube from the material such that the round, closed geometry tube has non-equiangular welds after emerging from the die.

A method for shaping a blank comprising a metal includes a step of loading die blank onto a first die, a step of bringing the first die and a second die together, a step of forming a seal around the blank, and a step of injecting a pressurized molten salt into a space in die blank to supply a hydraulic pressure to the blank.

A forming system includes: a forming apparatus which supplies gas into a cylindrical metal pipe material having a welded portion to expand the metal pipe material; a supply device for supplying the metal pipe material to the forming apparatus; and a control device for controlling an operation of the supply device, in which in a case where a position where a distance from a center of the metal pipe material is the longest, on a surface of the die, when viewed from an extension direction of the metal pipe material in a state where the metal pipe material is disposed between the dies, is a longest position, the control device includes a control unit which controls supply of the metal pipe material to the forming apparatus such that the welded portion is not located on a straight line connecting the longest position and the center of the metal pipe material.

A method for shaping a blank comprising a metal includes a step of loading the blank onto a first die, a step of bringing the first die and a second die together, a step of forming a seal around the blank, and a step of injecting a pressurized molten salt into a space in the blank to supply a hydraulic pressure to the blank.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing formed aluminum components. The method comprises the steps: i. Providing a hollow profile of aluminum or aluminum allow, the profile having a predetermined length and comprising an outer wall having a pre-determined thickness; ii. Placing a hollow aluminum profile in a cavity of a bending tool and press bending the profile using the bending tool; and iii. Transferring the profile to a cavity of a forming tool and subjecting the interior of the profile to elevated gas pressure, whereby the section of the profile is distended until the outer wall of the profile abuts the forming tool, thereby providing a formed aluminum component; wherein the steps ii. and iii. are performed at a tool temperature of 350-470? C. The present invention further relates to formed aluminum components manufactured by such a method.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing formed aluminum components. The method comprises the steps: i. Providing a hollow profile of aluminum or aluminum allow, the profile having a predetermined length and comprising an outer wall having a pre-determined thickness; ii. Placing a hollow aluminum profile in a cavity of a bending tool and press bending the profile using the bending tool; and iii. Transferring the profile to a cavity of a forming tool and subjecting the interior of the profile to elevated gas pressure, whereby the section of the profile is distended until the outer wall of the profile abuts the forming tool, thereby providing a formed aluminum component; wherein the steps ii. and iii. are performed at a tool temperature of 350-470? C. The present invention further relates to formed aluminum components manufactured by such a method.

A method of forming a part includes extruding a billet through a die, forming a round, closed geometry tube from the billet, and hydroforming the round, closed geometry tube. The extrusion die contains an orifice with a central mandrel, a plurality of bridges, and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges. A spacing of the bridges around the mandrel is non-equiangular. As a result, the round, closed geometry tube has non-equiangular welds after emerging from the die.

A method of forming a component includes providing a work-piece blank from a formable material. The method also includes engaging the work-piece blank with a transfer device. The method additionally includes austenitizing the work-piece blank in the transfer device via heating the blank to achieve austenite microstructure therein. The method also includes transferring the austenitized blank to a forming press using the transfer device. The method additionally includes forming the component via the forming press from the austenitized blank and quenching the formed component. A work-piece blank transfer system includes a transfer device having clamping arm(s) for engaging, holding, transferring, and releasing the work-piece blank. The transfer device also includes a heating element configured to austenitize the work-piece blank via heating the blank to achieve austenite microstructure therein. The transfer system additionally includes an electronic controller programmed to regulate the heating element and the clamping arm(s).