Method for producing a motor vehicle component by hot-forming with integrated cut

A method of making a motor vehicle component, the method comprising:

• heating a plate comprising a hardenable steel sheet alloy to a temperature greater than an Ac1 temperature or an Ac3 temperature of the steel alloy;
• inserting the plate, after the heating, in a combined forming-and-cutting tool, the cutting occurring before the forming;
• fixing the plate, after the inserting, in the forming-and-cutting tool using a stamp arranged in the forming-and-cutting tool;
• and performing, in a single press stroke of the forming-and-cutting tool, hot-cutting, hot-forming, and press-hardening of the plate to obtain the motor vehicle component, wherein the hot-cutting comprises cutting at least partially a circumferential edge of the plate before beginning the hot-forming, or during the hot-forming, in a time period of up to 50% of progression of the hot-forming, wherein the cutting is completed at at least 20 mm before the press stroke reaching a bottom dead center position of the forming-and-cutting tool;
• wherein the cutting is performed by cutting edges arranged on a lower metal sheet holder on opposite sides of a lower molding jaw of the forming-and-cutting tool, the forming-and-cutting tool further comprises an upper molding jaw which is lowered to press the plate against the cutting edges and cause the cutting edges to perform the cutting, and after the cutting has been completed, the lower metal sheet holder is lowered, together with the upper molding jaw, relative to the lower molding jaw.