Method of Forming a Workpiece

Abstract

A method of forming a ceramic metal composite workpiece comprises a step of providing a forming assembly with first and second shaping surfaces that together form a chamber. The chamber is shaped substantially similar to a desired external geometry of a green body of the workpiece, and at least one of the surfaces comprises a pressing mechanism adapted to move the surface with respect to the other surface. The method also comprises placing into the chamber a malleable composite material and an insert comprising a shape substantially similar to a desired internal surface geometry of the green body. The method also comprises a step of pressing the malleable composite material to form the green body such that at least a portion of the malleable composite material flows around at least a portion of the insert to form the green body with the desired external and internal surface geometries.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.