Pressing metal powder into shapes

A method for pressing metal powder to form a consolidated body having an axial dimension and at least one dimension transverse to that axial dimension, comprising:

• (a) Inserting a sheet metal container into a closely fitted die cavity, the container having an open, axial end and internal axial and transverse dimension, corresponding to said dimensions of said body to be formed;
• (b) inserting into the said container an axially alligned press punch having an internal duct for pouring said metal powder therethrough;
• (c) pouring a mass of that metal powder through said internal duct to partially fill said container to less than a full azimuthal section of that container and to a height along said axial dimension within that container not exeeding about 1.5 times that transverse dimension;
• (d) lifting said press punch within said container after the pouring as per step (c);
• (e) rotating said press punch about its axial dimension by less than 360.degree. degrees;
• (f) moving said press punch downwardly to compress and bond said powder portion into a consolidated mass as an initial portion of said body to be formed;
• (g) lifting said press punch from said compressed mass and pouring through said duct an additional mass of said powder, upon and next to said consolidated mass in what amounts to less than a full azimuthal section and also to a height not exceeding 1.5 times that transverse dimension, following which steps (e) and (f) are repeated;
• (h) repeating the steps (g), (e), and (f) to cause said formed body to grow azimuthally and in height while bonding each of the masses of added powder thereto until the final size of the body is attained;
• and
• (i) removing said container with said final body from said die cavity.