A method of forming magnetically permeable material is provided. The method includes introducing magnetorheological (MR) fluid including one or more of magnetically permeable particles, fibers and fillers suspended in a curable liquid into a cavity, driving the magnetically permeable particles, fibers and/or fillers in the MR fluid into flux line formations and curing the curable liquid of the MR fluid during the driving to lock the flux line formations in place.

A method of forming magnetically permeable material is provided. The method includes introducing magnetorheological (MR) fluid including one or more of magnetically permeable particles, fibers and fillers suspended in a curable liquid into a cavity, driving the magnetically permeable particles, fibers and/or fillers in the MR fluid into flux line formations and curing the curable liquid of the MR fluid during the driving to lock the flux line formations in place.

A method for fixing a steering support capable of improving efficiency when the steering support is fixed to an instrument panel reinforcement body is provided. The method for fixing the steering support according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes processes of: passing an instrument panel reinforcement body through a first through-hole formed in a steering support; and increasing the pressure inside an area of the instrument panel reinforcement body covered with the steering support, plastically deforming the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body from an inside to an outside, and pressing a circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support by an outer circumferential surface of the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body.

A coil unit is inserted into a tube member, an electromagnetic-forming coil part is arranged at a tube member forming position, a coil-side terminal is connected to a power-supply-side terminal of an end part of a high-voltage power supply cable, the electromagnetic-forming coil part is energized by a power supply part to electromagnetically form the tube member, the coil-side terminal and the power-supply-side terminal are separated, and the coil unit is removed from the tube member. Thus, the tube member can be separated from the high-voltage power supply cable during transport.

An electromagnetic forming device for an aluminum tube member, the electromagnetic forming device including: a jig plate in which a support member that has a through hole has been fixed to a substrate; and a tube insertion mechanism that inserts a tube member into the through hole in the support member. The electromagnetic forming device also includes: a coil unit that has an electromagnetic-forming coil part; a coil movement mechanism that supports the coil unit; a current supply part that supplies current for electromagnetic forming to the electromagnetic-forming coil part; and a jig plate transport mechanism that transports the jig plate from a tube insertion stage ST1 to a tube expansion stage ST2.

A pipe assembly includes an inner pipe member and an outer pipe member that is externally fixed to an end portion of the inner pipe member. The inner pipe has a thickness that is less than that of the outer pipe which is placed outside the end portion of the inner pipe member. An additional fixture member is placed outside the portion where the inner and outer pipes are fitted to each other. While the inner pipe, the outer pipe, and the additional fixture are in this state, an electromagnetic coil is placed inside the inner pipe at a position where the outer pipe and the additional fixture are to be fixed. The diameter of the inner pipe increases by applying a pulse current to the electromagnetic coil. The diameter of the outer pipe increases by the action of force applied when the diameter of the inner pipe is increased.

A method for fixing a steering support capable of improving efficiency when the steering support is fixed to an instrument panel reinforcement body is provided. The method for fixing the steering support according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes processes of: passing an instrument panel reinforcement body through a first through-hole formed in a steering support; and increasing the pressure inside an area of the instrument panel reinforcement body covered with the steering support, plastically deforming the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body from an inside to an outside, and pressing a circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support by an outer circumferential surface of the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body.

A coil unit is inserted into a tube member, an electromagnetic-forming coil part is arranged at a tube member forming position, a coil-side terminal is connected to a power-supply-side terminal of an end part of a high-voltage power supply cable, the electromagnetic-forming coil part is energized by a power supply part to electromagnetically form the tube member, the coil-side terminal and the power-supply-side terminal are separated, and the coil unit is removed from the tube member. Thus, the tube member can be separated from the high-voltage power supply cable during transport.

An electromagnetic forming device for an aluminum tube member, the electromagnetic forming device including: a jig plate in which a support member that has a through hole has been fixed to a substrate; and a tube insertion mechanism that inserts a tube member into the through hole in the support member. The electromagnetic forming device also includes: a coil unit that has an electromagnetic-forming coil part; a coil movement mechanism that supports the coil unit; a current supply part that supplies current for electromagnetic forming to the electromagnetic-forming coil part; and a jig plate transport mechanism that transports the jig plate from a tube insertion stage ST1 to a tube expansion stage ST2.

A plurality of additional fixture members placed outside a pipe member at a plurality of positions of the pipe member, where the plurality of fixture members are fixed, and a plurality of electromagnetic coils placed inside the pipe member at the plurality of positions of the fixed pipe member. In this state, a pulse current is applied to the plurality of electromagnetic coils located at a first joint, where the fixture member is joined to the outside of the portion where first and second pipe elements of the pipe member are fitted to each other, is swaged and fixed to the pipe member before an fixture member located at a second joint, wherein fixture member is joined to at least one of the first and second pipe elements at a different position, so the plurality of fixture members are swaged and fixed to the pipe member by electromagnetic forming.