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.

A method for controlling a superplastic forming machine for imprinting a shape on a sheet, the machine comprising: a cover; a vat; a press and a peripheral seal for gripping the sheet at its periphery and sealing a pressurized forming chamber delimited by the sheet; members for heating the sheet directly by radiation, these being arranged facing the sheet; a programmable controller. The method involves: determining an initial heating configuration; a finite-element simulation relating to the temperature of the sheet and performed in such a way as to have a temperature that is substantially consistent across the sheet and substantially constant during the course of the forming, in order to obtain a forming specification comprising at least a cycle of powering the heating members and a cycle of pressure in the forming chamber; programming the programmable controller according to the forming specification yielded by the previous simulation.

A method for controlling a superplastic forming machine for imprinting a shape on a sheet, the machine comprising: a cover; a vat; a press and a peripheral seal for gripping the sheet at its periphery and sealing a pressurized forming chamber delimited by the sheet; members for heating the sheet directly by radiation, these being arranged facing the sheet; a programmable controller. The method involves: determining an initial heating configuration; a finite-element simulation relating to the temperature of the sheet and performed in such a way as to have a temperature that is substantially consistent across the sheet and substantially constant during the course of the forming, in order to obtain a forming specification comprising at least a cycle of powering the heating members and a cycle of pressure in the forming chamber; programming the programmable controller according to the forming specification yielded by the previous simulation.

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 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.

Provided is a method for quick forming of a hot metal sheet. The method relates to a technology for forming a metal sheet part, and solves the problem that the existing hot metal sheet forming technology cannot ensure that a blank is deformed under reasonable temperature and pressure conditions, thereby failing to realize precise and quick forming of a complex metal sheet part, especially a thin-walled part. The method mainly includes the following steps: step one, placing a metal sheet blank to be formed on a forming mold; step two, introducing high-pressure gases with equal pressures simultaneously into upper and lower enclosed cavities respectively formed by the metal sheet blank and the sealing mold, and the metal sheet blank and the forming mold; step three, heating the metal sheet blank to a preset forming temperature condition; step four, quickly releasing the high-pressure gas from the cavity formed by the metal sheet blank and the forming mold, such that the metal sheet blank bulges; and step five, discharging the gas from the cavity formed by the metal sheet blank and the sealing mold, and opening the mold to obtain a formed metal sheet part. The present invention is used for manufacturing a metal sheet part.

Provided is a method for quick forming of a hot metal sheet. The method relates to a technology for forming a metal sheet part, and solves the problem that the existing hot metal sheet forming technology cannot ensure that a blank is deformed under reasonable temperature and pressure conditions, thereby failing to realize precise and quick forming of a complex metal sheet part, especially a thin-walled part. The method mainly includes the following steps: step one, placing a metal sheet blank to be formed on a forming mold; step two, introducing high-pressure gases with equal pressures simultaneously into upper and lower enclosed cavities respectively formed by the metal sheet blank and the sealing mold, and the metal sheet blank and the forming mold; step three, heating the metal sheet blank to a preset forming temperature condition; step four, quickly releasing the high-pressure gas from the cavity formed by the metal sheet blank and the forming mold, such that the metal sheet blank bulges; and step five, discharging the gas from the cavity formed by the metal sheet blank and the sealing mold, and opening the mold to obtain a formed metal sheet part. The present invention is used for manufacturing a metal sheet part.

An aerofoil structure with a hollow cavity is manufactured by diffusion bonding and superplastic forming. Outer panels are formed of a first material; a membrane is formed of a second material. Stop-off material is applied to preselected areas on at least one side of the membrane or of one of the panels so as to prevent diffusion bonding between the panels and the membrane at the preselected areas. The panels and the membrane are arranged in a stack and a diffusion bonding process is performed to bond together the first and second panels and the membrane to form an assembly. A superplastic forming process is performed at a forming temperature to expand the assembly to form the aerofoil structure. The forming temperature is selected so that the second material undergoes superplastic deformation at the forming temperature and the first material does not undergo superplastic deformation at the forming temperature.

An aerofoil structure with a hollow cavity is manufactured by diffusion bonding and superplastic forming. Outer panels are formed of a first material; a membrane is formed of a second material. Stop-off material is applied to preselected areas on at least one side of the membrane or of one of the panels so as to prevent diffusion bonding between the panels and the membrane at the preselected areas. The panels and the membrane are arranged in a stack and a diffusion bonding process is performed to bond together the first and second panels and the membrane to form an assembly. A superplastic forming process is performed at a forming temperature to expand the assembly to form the aerofoil structure. The forming temperature is selected so that the second material undergoes superplastic deformation at the forming temperature and the first material does not undergo superplastic deformation at the forming temperature.

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.