Mould for isostatic pressing

Abstract

Methods for forming compacts having reduced elephant's feet effect are disclosed. The apparatus utilized includes a press for dry bag isostatic pressing, the press body having a cavity with at least one open end formed therein, an elastic mould, operatively positioned inside the cavity for compacting metal powder, means, operatively connected to the mould for expanding the mould and compacting the metal powder, and at least one press member having a base section substantially normal to the cavity and an insert section extending from base section into the cavity, the insert section being formed in the shape of any one of a plurality of geometric shapes. The method comprises depositing a metal powder in the cavity of a cold isostatic press, sealing at least one end of the cavity with a punch having a section substantially normal to the cavity and an insert section having any one of a plurality of geometric shapes extending from the base section into the cavity, applying pressure to the outer surface of the mould, decompressing the mould by reducing the pressure applied in a controlled manner and removing the resulting compact from the mould, the compact having a taper applied to at least one end which reduces the elephant's foot effect.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.