Method for calibrating a metal profile blank which is configured as a hollow-chamber profile and which has at least one solid wall

A method for calibrating a metal profile blank which is configured as a hollow-chamber profile and which has at least one solid wall, comprising:

• a) providing the metal profile blank which is configured as a hollow-chamber profile including at least one hollow chamber and which has at least one element with a longitudinal extent, a transverse extent and a vertical extent;
• b) inserting at least one end region of the element of the profile blank into a cavity of an open pressing tool;
• c) closing the pressing tool in such a way that surfaces of the pressing tool are displaced in a main closing direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the profile blank until the surfaces of the pressing tool come to lie against a first pair of surfaces of the profile blank, which are situated opposite one another at a distance, of the at least one end region of the element of the profile blank to be calibrated;
• d) closing the pressing tool further in the main direction, the further closing of the pressing tool having the effect that the at least one end region of the element of the profile blank is deformed and the element of the profile blank is bent;
• e) closing the pressing tool in a secondary direction perpendicular to the main direction and to the longitudinal extent of the profile blank until a second set of surfaces of the pressing tool come to lie against a second pair of surfaces of the at least one end region of the element of the profile blank to be calibrated, wherein wedge-shaped limbs of a drive element of the pressing tool come into engagement with wedge-shaped dies of the pressing tool and the wedge-shaped limbs are supported on supporting or mating elements, and wherein a floating mandrel is inserted into the at least one hollow chamber of the profile blank;
• f) closing the pressing tool further in the secondary direction, the moving of the wedge-shaped limbs of the drive element of the pressing tool against the wedge-shaped dies of the pressing tool having the effect that the profile blank is subjected to plastic deformation, generated as a result of compression in the secondary direction, in the main and secondary direction so as to reduce or eliminate the bending generated in step d), wherein the element of the profile blank is subjected to bending in the secondary direction perpendicular to the main direction;
• g) opening the pressing tool;
• and
• h) removing the profile blank from the open pressing tool.