Method for superplastic forming
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorsC. Howard Hamilton, Edward D. Weisert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for controlling the strain rate during superplastic forming of a blank of material into a part. The method produces a part in a minimum time by deforming the material under suitable-optimum superplastic conditions. A relationship is determined between time and the pressure required to form the blank against the configured surface of a die at a strain rate which causes the blank to flow superplastically. The blank is positioned in the die and held at a temperature at which the material exhibits superplasticity. Pressure is applied to the blank in accordance with the previously determined relationship between time and pressure until the part is formed.
Claims8
A method of forming a part comprising the steps of:
- providing a blank of material having superplastic characteristics;
- providing a die having a surface which is complementary to the shape of the part;
- determining a relationship between time during forming and the pressure required to superplastically form said blank against said surface of said die at a suitable substantially constant strain rate;
- positioning said blank relative to said die;
- bringing said blank to within a temperature range at which said blank exhibits superplastic characteristics;
- and
- applying pressure of varying magnitude to said blank in accordance with said relationship between time and pressure to induce tensile stresses in said blank and superplastically form said blank against said surface of said die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.