Method to operate a hydraulic press for metal sheet forming
AssigneeDiteven Limited:
InventorsGeorge J.S. Adam, Mark W. Brazier, Alistair D. Foster
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Abstract
The invention is a process for forming a metal alloy component comprising: heating a metal alloy sheet blank to at least its Solution Heat Treatment temperature at a heating station; transferring the heated sheet blank to a press; initiating formation of a component by closing the press dies at a first speed then completing the formation by closing the press dies at a second speed, said second speed being slower than the first; and holding the formed component in the dies during cooling of the formed component.
Claims13
A process for pressing a sheet metal component of aluminum or magnesium alloy comprising the sequential steps:
- i) heating a metal aluminum or magnesium alloy sheet blank to above its solvus temperature but below its solidus temperature at a heating station;
- ii) transferring the heated sheet blank to a press;
- iii) initiating formation of a component at an initial temperature above 350° C. by closing the press dies at a first speed to a first position within 30 mm of its absolute bottom position to complete part of the formation, then completing the formation by closing the press dies at a second speed through the remaining distance to the absolute bottom position, said second speed being slower than the first;
- and
- iv) quenching the formed sheet alloy component by holding the formed component in the dies during quenching of the formed component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.