Method and apparatus for simultaneously upsetting the ends of a cylindricl blank

A press assembly (20) for upsetting the ends (22) of a cylindrical blank (24), said press assembly (20) comprising:

• an actuation assembly (42) including two ends;
• force applying means (45) operatively connected to said actuation assembly (42) for providing downward force to said actuation assembly (42);
• a pair of upper wedge members (58) affixed one at each end of said actuation assembly (42);
• upper die means (30) comprising an upper die recess (32);
• lower die means (26) comprising a lower die recess (28) for receiving the cylindrical blank (24) such that said upper (32) and lower (28) die recesses loosely surround the cylindrical blank (24);
• two punches (36) movable between a retracted position outside said die recesses (28,32) and an extended position within said die recesses (28,32) for upsetting the two ends (22) of the cylindrical blank (24);
• said punches (36) each including an end (38);
• a pair of lower wedge members (60) each operatively connected to a respective one of said punches (36) and positioned to coact with said upper wedge members (58) to provide axial movement of said punches (36) to said extended position;
• compression means (48 and 50) for producing a clamping force between said upper die means (30) and said lower die means (26);
• and
• characterized by said ends (38) of said punches (36) each including a concave end surface (40) for directing the flow of the ends (22) of the cylindrical blank (24) as they are punched to facilitate uniform flare-out of internal grain structure within the ends (22) of the blank (24) while avoiding flare-out within a cylindrical body portion (130) of the blank (24) to permit grain structure (134) along the cylindrical body portion (130) to remain parallel and maintain a smooth exterior surface on the cylindrical body portion (130).