# US 2012/0073347 A1 · System And Method For Manufacturing An F-Temper 7xxx Series Aluminum Alloy > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0073347 A1 - Document ID: US20120073347A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/308,698 - Filed: 2011-12-01 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-01 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: George S. Luckey; Peter A. Friedman; Yingbing Luo; Rosa Lynda Nuno; Nia R. Harrison; Ronald P. Cooper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073347A1 ## CPC - B21D 22/022: {by heating the blank or stamping associated with heat treatment (C21D takes precedence)} - B21D 37/16: Heating or cooling - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract A system and a method of processing an F-temper aluminum alloy. An F-temper aluminum alloy blank may be heated and positioned in the die set such that the blank does not touch the die set. The blank may be formed into a part and quenched when the die set is closed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming an F-temper aluminum alloy, the method comprising the steps of: providing an F-temper aluminum alloy blank; heating the blank; providing a die set; positioning the blank in the die set such that the blank does not touch the die set; and closing the die set on the blank to form the blank into a part while simultaneously quenching the part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: providing an F-temper aluminum alloy coil; and blanking the F-temper aluminum alloy coil to provide the blank, wherein the step of blanking does not materially change the temper of the aluminum alloy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: applying a lubricant to the F-temper aluminum alloy coil before the step of blanking the F-temper aluminum alloy coil. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the blank includes heating the blank to at least its solution temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the blank includes heating the blank to at least its solidus temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the blank is conducted between 460° C. and 490° C. for less than 45 minutes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the blank is performed outside of the die set, and the method further comprises the step of transferring the blank to the die set after the step of heating the blank and before the step of positioning the blank, wherein the steps of transferring the blank to the die set and positioning the blank in the die set is performed in 30 seconds or less. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of closing the die set on the blank is done at a rate of at least 50 millimeters per second. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the heat loss from the blank between the steps of heating the blank and closing the die set on the blank is such that the blank is maintained at or above a critical quench temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: cooling the die set to a temperature equal to or between 1° C. and 30° C. before the step of closing the die set on the blank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: holding the die set closed on the blank for 3 to 60 seconds after the step of closing the die set on the blank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein quenching the part includes cooling the part at a quench rate of at least 150° C./second. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: artificially aging the part to achieve a high strength temper. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: aging the part to achieve a T6 or T7x temper aluminum part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the F-temper aluminum alloy blank is a 7xxx series aluminum alloy. ### Claim 16 A method of forming an F-temper aluminum alloy into an automotive body panel, the method comprising the steps of: heating an F-temper 7xxx series aluminum alloy material to at least its solidus temperature while cooling a die set having a first die and a second die to a temperature equal to or between 1° C. and 30° C.; placing the material in the die set such that the material is spaced apart from the first die and the second die; and closing the die set on the material to form the material into the automotive body panel and simultaneously quenching the automotive body panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: providing a staging apparatus to hold the material between and apart from the die set and to release the material to engage the second die as the die set closes. ### Claim 18 A system for forming an F-temper aluminum alloy, the system comprising: a die set with a first die and a second die, the die set coolable to a temperature from 1° C. to 30° C. a heating apparatus for heating the alloy to at least its solidus temperature; a transfer mechanism for transferring the alloy from the heating apparatus to the die set; a staging apparatus in cooperation with the die set for staging the alloy between and offset from the first and second dies; and an actuator in cooperation with the die set for advancing one or both of the first and second dies toward the other, such that the die set forms the alloy into a part and simultaneously quenches the part to a temperature below the solidus temperature of the alloy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein the staging apparatus is disposed on the die set, the staging apparatus having a finger that rotates between a first position and a second position, wherein the finger contacts the alloy in the first position and holds the alloy apart from the first and second dies and the finger disengages the alloy in the second position to allow the alloy to engage the either the first or second dies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein the die set further comprises piping running within the die set filled with a heat transfer medium, such that the piping and heat transfer medium work in cooperation with the die set to maintain a controlled temperature of the dies.