A method of, and arrangement for, producing shaped hollow metal objects by a hot process. A metal hollow semi-finished-product with at least one opening is heated to a forming temperature and placed into a cavity, whose shape corresponds to the desired final external shape of the hollow object. Then the cavity is sealed and water and/or steam is introduced therein. After the final shape of the semi-finished-product is achieved, the semi-finished-product is removed. The cavity is formed by a split mould, whose opening's entry edge has an expanded portion, against which a sealing feature is oriented. The outer surface of the sealing feature is arranged to close against this expanded portion. The sealing feature is also provided with a means of supply of water and/or steam, and a tube through which the water and/or steam is supplied. This tube extends into the interior space of the semi-finished-product, and can be provided with nozzles.

A method of, and arrangement for, producing shaped hollow metal objects by a hot process. A metal hollow semi-finished-product with at least one opening is heated to a forming temperature and placed into a cavity, whose shape corresponds to the desired final external shape of the hollow object. Then the cavity is sealed and water and/or steam is introduced therein. After the final shape of the semi-finished-product is achieved, the semi-finished-product is removed. The cavity is formed by a split mould, whose opening's entry edge has an expanded portion, against which a sealing feature is oriented. The outer surface of the sealing feature is arranged to close against this expanded portion. The sealing feature is also provided with a means of supply of water and/or steam, and a tube through which the water and/or steam is supplied. This tube extends into the interior space of the semi-finished-product, and can be provided with nozzles.

A machine can form a work piece into a bowl subcomponent of a steel pan musical instrument. The machine includes a pressure lid and a die mold. The die mold may be formed of non-metal layers stacked between metal layers. In example operation, a blank or work piece is inserted between the lid and die mold. The lid is pressed down (e.g., by a hydraulic ram), forcing a portion of the blank into a face groove of the die mold for sealing. Pressurized water or other fluid introduced between the lid and the blank exerts pressure on the sealed portion of the blank and stretches the blank to conform to a bowl shape of the die mold. Note regions can be introduced by this machine-performed shaping and/or by subsequent manual operations to further prepare the work piece for incorporation into a steel pan musical instrument.

A machine can form a work piece into a bowl subcomponent of a steel pan musical instrument. The machine includes a pressure lid and a die mold. The die mold may be formed of non-metal layers stacked between metal layers. In example operation, a blank or work piece is inserted between the lid and die mold. The lid is pressed down (e.g., by a hydraulic ram), forcing a portion of the blank into a face groove of the die mold for sealing. Pressurized water or other fluid introduced between the lid and the blank exerts pressure on the sealed portion of the blank and stretches the blank to conform to a bowl shape of the die mold. Note regions can be introduced by this machine-performed shaping and/or by subsequent manual operations to further prepare the work piece for incorporation into a steel pan musical instrument.

Systems and methods are provided for creating precursors for consolidating composite parts. One embodiment is a method for forming a metallic structure. The method includes forming a precursor for a pressure membrane that includes a contour having a linearized length corresponding with a linearized length of a surface of a forming tool. The method also includes affixing a perimeter of the precursor to a perimeter of a base member, leaving a volume between the base member and the precursor, altering a shape of the precursor at a superplastic temperature by forcing the precursor into complementary contact with the surface of the forming tool, and setting the shape of the precursor while the precursor is held in complementary contact.

A machine can form a work piece into a bowl subcomponent of a steel pan musical instrument. The machine includes a pressure lid and a die mold. The die mold may be formed of non-metal layers stacked between metal layers. In example operation, a blank or work piece is inserted between the lid and die mold. The lid is pressed down (e.g., by a hydraulic ram), forcing a portion of the blank into a face groove of the die mold for sealing. Pressurized water or other fluid introduced between the lid and the blank exerts pressure on the sealed portion of the blank and stretches the blank to conform to a bowl shape of the die mold. Note regions can be introduced by this machine-performed shaping and/or by subsequent manual operations to further prepare the work piece for incorporation into a steel pan musical instrument.

A machine can form a work piece into a bowl subcomponent of a steel pan musical instrument. The machine includes a pressure lid and a die mold. The die mold may be formed of non-metal layers stacked between metal layers. In example operation, a blank or work piece is inserted between the lid and die mold. The lid is pressed down (e.g., by a hydraulic ram), forcing a portion of the blank into a face groove of the die mold for sealing. Pressurized water or other fluid introduced between the lid and the blank exerts pressure on the sealed portion of the blank and stretches the blank to conform to a bowl shape of the die mold. Note regions can be introduced by this machine-performed shaping and/or by subsequent manual operations to further prepare the work piece for incorporation into a steel pan musical instrument.

The present invention relates to a blow molding device including: a heating unit which is configured to heat a molding material; and molds between which the molding material is loaded and molded, in which the heating unit includes: an infrared lamp configured to emit infrared rays, a reflective mirror configured to concentrate the infrared rays emitted from the infrared lamp; and a light transmitting body configured to transmit the infrared rays concentrated by the reflective mirror to the molding material, and in which the molds mold the molding material by using gas pressures applied to surfaces of the molding material heated to a predetermined temperature by the infrared rays transmitted from the light transmitting body.

The present invention relates to a blow molding device including: a heating unit which is configured to heat a molding material; and molds between which the molding material is loaded and molded, in which the heating unit includes: an infrared lamp configured to emit infrared rays, a reflective mirror configured to concentrate the infrared rays emitted from the infrared lamp; and a light transmitting body configured to transmit the infrared rays concentrated by the reflective mirror to the molding material, and in which the molds mold the molding material by using gas pressures applied to surfaces of the molding material heated to a predetermined temperature by the infrared rays transmitted from the light transmitting body.

A machine can form a work piece into a bowl subcomponent of a steel pan musical instrument. The machine includes a pressure lid and a die mold. The die mold may be formed of non-metal layers stacked between metal layers. In example operation, a blank or work piece is inserted between the lid and die mold. The lid is pressed down (e.g., by a hydraulic ram), forcing a portion of the blank into a face groove of the die mold for sealing. Pressurized water or other fluid introduced between the lid and the blank exerts pressure on the sealed portion of the blank and stretches the blank to conform to a bowl shape of the die mold. Note regions can be introduced by this machine-performed shaping and/or by subsequent manual operations to further prepare the work piece for incorporation into a steel pan musical instrument.