A method is used to manufacture a tube having a hollow interior for housing an axle shaft. The tube is formed in a single machine having a fixed base and a single press structure movable toward the fixed base. The single machine includes first and second die assemblies coupled to the fixed base and first and second mandrels coupled to the single press structure. The method includes the steps of placing a billet into the first die assembly, pressing the billet into the first die assembly with the first mandrel to producing a pre-formed billet, and moving the pre-formed billet from the first die assembly to the second die assembly. THE method further includes the steps of pressing the pre-formed billet into the second die assembly with the second mandrel to elongate the pre-formed billet and form a hollow interior therein to produce an extruded tube.

A method is used to manufacture a tube having a hollow interior for housing an axle shaft. The tube is formed in a single machine having a fixed base and a single press structure movable toward the fixed base. The single machine includes first and second die assemblies coupled to the fixed base and first and second mandrels coupled to the single press structure. The method includes the steps of placing a billet into the first die assembly, pressing the billet into the first die assembly with the first mandrel to producing a pre-formed billet, and moving the pre-formed billet from the first die assembly to the second die assembly. THE method further includes the steps of pressing the pre-formed billet into the second die assembly with the second mandrel to elongate the pre-formed billet and form a hollow interior therein to produce an extruded tube.

A method is used to manufacture a tube having a hollow interior for housing an axle shaft. The tube is formed in a single machine having a fixed base and a single press structure movable toward the fixed base. The single machine includes first and second die assemblies coupled to the fixed base and first and second mandrels coupled to the single press structure. The method includes the steps of placing a billet into the first die assembly, pressing the billet into the first die assembly with the first mandrel to producing a pre-formed billet, and moving the pre-formed billet from the first die assembly to the second die assembly. THE method further includes the steps of pressing the pre-formed billet into the second die assembly with the second mandrel to elongate the pre-formed billet and form a hollow interior therein to produce an extruded tube.

A shaft assembly comprises a hollow shaft and at least one working component disposed therein. A method of forming the shaft assembly includes a step of providing at least one generally planar preform. The preform is then formed into a “U”-shaped partial cylinder. One or more working components may then be assembled and connected to an interior of the partial cylinder. The partial cylinder is then further formed into a hollow cylinder having a generally circular cross-sectional shape, thus surrounding the one or more working components to secure a position thereof in an interior of the hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder may then be held stationary and a welding operation performed thereon to form the hollow shaft. Once the hollow shaft is welded, post process machining may then be performed thereon as desired to further finish the hollow shaft.

A shaft assembly comprises a hollow shaft and at least one working component disposed therein. A method of forming the shaft assembly includes a step of providing at least one generally planar preform. The preform is then formed into a “U”-shaped partial cylinder. One or more working components may then be assembled and connected to an interior of the partial cylinder. The partial cylinder is then further formed into a hollow cylinder having a generally circular cross-sectional shape, thus surrounding the one or more working components to secure a position thereof in an interior of the hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder may then be held stationary and a welding operation performed thereon to form the hollow shaft. Once the hollow shaft is welded, post process machining may then be performed thereon as desired to further finish the hollow shaft.

There is provided a method of manufacturing a variable wall thickness steel pipe with a hollow tubular raw pipe. The method of manufacturing a variable wall thickness steel pipe includes locking the raw pipe in a die by thrusting a plug into the raw pipe from an one end side, so as to expand an outer shape on the one end side in a state, where the raw pipe is disposed inside the die and movement of the raw pipe in a longitudinal direction is restricted; and performing ironing in which an inner shape of the raw pipe is expanded while the outer shape is maintained so that a thin portion is formed by further thrusting the plug toward the other end side of the raw pipe while the locked state of the raw pipe is maintained, whereas the restriction on the raw pipe is relaxed.

There is provided a method of manufacturing a variable wall thickness steel pipe with a hollow tubular raw pipe. The method of manufacturing a variable wall thickness steel pipe includes locking the raw pipe in a die by thrusting a plug into the raw pipe from an one end side, so as to expand an outer shape on the one end side in a state, where the raw pipe is disposed inside the die and movement of the raw pipe in a longitudinal direction is restricted; and performing ironing in which an inner shape of the raw pipe is expanded while the outer shape is maintained so that a thin portion is formed by further thrusting the plug toward the other end side of the raw pipe while the locked state of the raw pipe is maintained, whereas the restriction on the raw pipe is relaxed.

Methods, systems, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to crimp a tube are disclosed. An example crimp disclosed herein includes a first crimp section extending between a first end of the crimp and a point along the crimp between the first end and a second end, a first inner diameter of the first crimp section constant between the first end and the point, and a second crimp section adjacent the first crimp section, the second crimp section extending between the point and the second end, a second inner diameter of the second crimp section to increase from the point to the second end.

Methods, systems, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to crimp a tube are disclosed. An example crimp disclosed herein includes a first crimp section extending between a first end of the crimp and a point along the crimp between the first end and a second end, a first inner diameter of the first crimp section constant between the first end and the point, and a second crimp section adjacent the first crimp section, the second crimp section extending between the point and the second end, a second inner diameter of the second crimp section to increase from the point to the second end.

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle crash box with a working direction in vehicle's longitudinal axis manufactured out of a tube which is expanded into different zones, wherein the zones are different in strength and diameter by using steel after forming a homogenous austenitic microstructure with a strain hardening effect. The present invention further relates to the manufacturing method of such a component.