An apparatus for producing metal sheets from extruded profiles of small thickness or of hollow chamber plates of light metal, preferably of magnesium or magnesium alloys, comprises an extruder for producing an extruded profile which is open along a surface line. A separating device is provided for cutting the extruded profile to length corresponding to the length of the metal sheet to be produced, or the hollow chamber plate to be produced. A bending unit is used for deforming the extruded profile into a U-shaped profile. An expansion unit is provided for expanding the U-shaped profile into a flat metal sheet or a hollow chamber plate. A stacking unit is also provided. At least one expansion unit is arranged parallel to the extrusion line and thus the extrusion and expanding processes are decoupled from one another.

A method for preparing a shear-assisted extruded material from a powder billet is provided, the method comprising providing a billet of material in substantially powder form; applying both axial and rotational pressure to the material to deform at least some of the contacted material; and extruding the material to form an extruded material. A method for preparing shear-assisted extruded material is provided, the method comprising applying both axial and rotational pressure to stock material to form an extruded material at a rate between 2 and 13 m/min. A method for preparing shear-assisted extruded material is provided. The method comprises applying both axial and rotational pressure to stock material to form an extruded material; and aging the extruded material for less than 3 hours. A method for preparing shear-assisted extruded material is provided. The method comprises providing a stock material for shear-assisted extrusion; and applying both axial and rotational force to the stock material to form an extruded material, wherein the axial force does not decrease during the extrusion.

Metal sheets (13) are produced from strand-shaped profiles (8) having a low thickness, made of magnesium or magnesium alloys by way of an extrusion system (1). The open or closed extruded profile (8) exiting the extrusion die (6-7) of an extrusion press (1) is shaped to obtain a flat metal sheet (13) and is then subjected to a defined shaping process by way of stretch-forming. The system for carrying out the method is essentially composed of an extrusion press (1) comprising a die plate generating the extruded profile and a shaping unit (5) following the die plate, wherein the shaping unit (5) is composed of a severing unit (2), a bending unit (3), and an unrolling unit (4).

Metal sheets (13) are produced from strand-shaped profiles (8) having a low thickness, made of magnesium or magnesium alloys by way of an extrusion system (1). The open or closed extruded profile (8) exiting the extrusion die (6-7) of an extrusion press (1) is shaped to obtain a flat metal sheet (13) and is then subjected to a defined shaping process by way of stretch-forming. The system for carrying out the method is essentially composed of an extrusion press (1) comprising a die plate generating the extruded profile and a shaping unit (5) following the die plate, wherein the shaping unit (5) is composed of a severing unit (2), a bending unit (3), and an unrolling unit (4).

In a method for the production of a cooling plate from a material having thermal conductivity, a workpiece in the form of a flat material blank with uniform material thickness is placed into a tool. The workpiece is pressed in a first stage by an inner punch of the tool to form in cooperation with pin forming openings of the tool pins upon an effective surface swept by the coolant, as the workpiece is held down by an outer punch of the tool, such that the pins protrude approximately perpendicular over a base area of the workpiece. In a second stage, the workpiece is pressed by the outer punch such as to form an essentially radially extending, flat peripheral edge of reduced material thickness in surrounding relation to the pins, as the workpiece with the formed pins is held down by the inner punch of the tool.

A method for preparing a shear-assisted extruded material from a powder billet is provided, the method comprising providing a billet of material in substantially powder form; applying both axial and rotational pressure to the material to deform at least some of the contacted material; and extruding the material to form an extruded material. A method for preparing shear-assisted extruded material is provided, the method comprising applying both axial and rotational pressure to stock material to form an extruded material at a rate between 2 and 13 m/min. A method for preparing shear-assisted extruded material is provided. The method comprises applying both axial and rotational pressure to stock material to form an extruded material; and aging the extruded material for less than 3 hours. A method for preparing shear-assisted extruded material is provided. The method comprises providing a stock material for shear-assisted extrusion; and applying both axial and rotational force to the stock material to form an extruded material, wherein the axial force does not decrease during the extrusion.

In a method for the production of a cooling plate from a material having thermal conductivity, a workpiece in the form of a flat material blank with uniform material thickness is placed into a tool. The workpiece is pressed in a first stage by an inner punch of the tool to form in cooperation with pin forming openings of the tool pins upon an effective surface swept by the coolant, as the workpiece is held down by an outer punch of the tool, such that the pins protrude approximately perpendicular over a base area of the workpiece. In a second stage, the workpiece is pressed by the outer punch such as to form an essentially radially extending, flat peripheral edge of reduced material thickness in surrounding relation to the pins, as the workpiece with the formed pins is held down by the inner punch of the tool.

In a method for producing a cooling plate, a workpiece in the form of a flat material blank with uniform material thickness is precisely centered in a tool. A substantially radially extending flat peripheral edge of the workpiece is formed by an outer punch of the tool, as the workpiece is held down by an inner punch of the tool and the outer punch is pressed against the peripheral edge to thereby reduce the material thickness of the peripheral edge. Pins are formed on a coolant-swept effective surface of a base of the workpiece by the inner punch through pressing in cooperation with pin forming openings of the tool as the outer punch is held down, such that the pins protrude approximately perpendicular beyond the base and are surrounded by the peripheral edge.

In a method for producing a cooling plate, a workpiece in the form of a flat material blank with uniform material thickness is precisely centered in a tool. A substantially radially extending flat peripheral edge of the workpiece is formed by an outer punch of the tool, as the workpiece is held down by an inner punch of the tool and the outer punch is pressed against the peripheral edge to thereby reduce the material thickness of the peripheral edge. Pins are formed on a coolant-swept effective surface of a base of the workpiece by the inner punch through pressing in cooperation with pin forming openings of the tool as the outer punch is held down, such that the pins protrude approximately perpendicular beyond the base and are surrounded by the peripheral edge.

A method (100) of manufacturing a clamping strap (10) configured to hold and support a hanging object (20) against a structure (21), which is to carry the hanging object, and a clamping strap obtainable by said method; said method comprising providing (101) an extruded elongated aluminium profile having an initial material thickness (T.sub.0) and an initial cross-sectional area (A.sub.0), said profile having a longitudinal direction, which coincides with the extrusion direction of the profile; forming the profile in a bending step (102) into a shape comprising a first end attachment portion (1a), a second end attachment portion (1b), and an intermediate portion (2) located between said first and second end attachment portions (1a; 1b) in a longitudinal direction of the profile (11), said intermediate portion (2) being configured to at least partially encircle the hanging object (20) when mounted to the structure (21); said method including forming said profile by means of locally thinning the profile in a longitudinal direction of the profile (11), in a thinning C operation (103) to obtain one or more thinned portions having a lower material thickness than the initial material thickness (T.sub.0); or locally axially compressing the profile in an axial compression step (104) to obtain one of more axially compressed portions having a higher material thickness than the initial material thickness (T.sub.0) and/or greater cross sectional area than the initial cross-sectional area (A.sub.0); or by a combination of said thinning operation (103) and said axial compression step (104).