Provided is a press forming method for a composite material. A press forming method for a composite material including an upper metal member, a resin member, and a lower metal member, and including: producing the lower metal member having first and second coating films respectively bonded to upper and lower surfaces thereof; producing the composite material including the upper metal member, a first hot melt member, the resin member, a second hot melt member, and the lower metal member; cutting an area spaced inward a predetermined distance from a lengthwise edge of the composite material by using a T-cutter, such that only the lower metal member remains; removing the upper metal member, the first hot melt member, the resin member, and the second hot melt member that are located outside the cut area; and folding the lower metal member by an angle of 180 degrees by using a hemming die.

Provided is a finishing processing method, including placing an inner panel having a protrusion and an outer panel on each other, and, by using a hemming finishing punch having an arc-shaped pressing surface and having a relief hole of a size corresponding to the protrusion at a central part of the pressing surface, pressing the outer panel so that the arc-shaped pressing surface is rolled along an end portion of the outer panel and the relief hole corresponds to the protrusion.

A folding tool (2) and a method for bend folding a workpiece (5) in multiple steps. The folding tool (2) includes three or more driven folding elements (13, 17, 21) which are positioned above one another and are fed to a common folding point, at least one folding element (17, 21) performing a swiveling movement. The folding tool (2) is used for successively creating folds with fold angles of about 160 or more in a plurality of folding steps.

Systems and methods produce or provide a folded connection, sealed by means of an adhesive composition, between a first sheetlike element and a second sheetlike element. The systems and methods bond a second flange of the second sheetlike element with at least one layer of an adhesive composition to a first flange of the first sheetlike element, in such a way that an end of the second flange of the second sheetlike element is indented by a distance relative to an end of the first flange of the first sheetlike element. The systems and methods bead the first flange of the first sheetlike element around the second flange of the second sheetlike element and, after the beading, an adhesive-composition part is placed around an edge of the first flange of the first sheetlike element and bonded to a second surface of the first flange of the first sheetlike element.

A method of forming a vehicle panel includes deforming a sheet metal workpiece between stamping tools to form a first and second edges that converge at a corner of the workpiece's main surface. The first edge is defined by a junction of the main surface and a first flange. The second edge is defined the main surface and a second flange. Forming the first and second edges includes deforming the workpiece so that the second flange has a first region bent to a first angle relative to the main surface and an unwinding region bent to an angle that unwinds from the first region as the second flange approaches the corner. The method includes deforming the workpiece between a second set of stamping tools that deform the first flange and the unwinding region of the second flange until the first and second flanges are bent greater than 90.

This invention concerns a method of joining metal sheets, comprising the following operating steps: a) providing a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet intended to be joined together in the vicinity of a first and a second straight edge, respectively; b) bending said first metal sheet parallel to said first edge so as to obtain a first edge flap; c) bending into a U- or V-shape a portion of said second metal sheet parallel to said second edge to obtain a longitudinal pocket in such a way that between said second edge and said pocket a second edge flap is defined; d) coupling said first metal sheet with said second metal sheet inserting said first flap inside said pocket; e) bending said pocket and the first flap inserted therein against said second flap so as to create an irreversible mechanical joint between the two metal sheets.

To provide a method for manufacturing an outer panel in which takt time is shortened and of high designability. A method for manufacturing an outer panel performing a hemming process according to the present disclosure includes; performing a laser light irradiation process on an inner side of a steel sheet that serves as an outer panel to bend the steel sheet at a first angle, the laser light being irradiated along a ridgeline of a center part of a bend radius of the steel sheet, and performing the hemming process on the steel sheet at a timing that is after the laser irradiation process to bend the steel sheet at a second angle smaller than the first angle.

Described herein is a new method and device for operating a hemming head of the type comprising a hemming roller (101) and a second, opposed, roller (102), which are rotatable about respective axes contained in one and the same plane. The method includes variation of the position of the second roller that is opposed to the hemming roller as a function of a signal indicating the force exerted by said second roller on the metal sheet and/or as a function of a signal indicating the position of the head along the machining path.

A method of forming a vehicle panel includes deforming a sheet metal workpiece between stamping tools to form a first and second edges that converge at a corner of the workpiece's main surface. The first edge is defined by a junction of the main surface and a first flange. The second edge is defined the main surface and a second flange. Forming the first and second edges includes deforming the workpiece so that the second flange has a first region bent to a first angle relative to the main surface and an unwinding region bent to an angle that unwinds from the first region as the second flange approaches the corner. The method includes deforming the workpiece between a second set of stamping tools that deform the first flange and the unwinding region of the second flange until the first and second flanges are bent greater than 90?.

In one embodiment, the method includes providing a double sheet metal element including the two sheet metal end sections; and creating a connecting section along the connecting line. The creation of the connecting section includes introducing a first depression into the double sheet metal element, and creating a first folded section of the double sheet metal element. The method further includes orienting the connecting section relative to an extension plane of the double sheet metal element so that the connecting section extends perpendicularly to the extension plane.