Method for producing a hollow shaft, in particular a camshaft and a camshaft produced according to said method

A method of producing a hollow shaft according to an internal high-pressure forming process (IHF), cams and/or machine elements being mounted on the outer lateral surface of the hollow shaft, in such a way as to be adapted to the use of the latter, in a frictional and/or positive-locking manner and so as to be distributed in functionally correct positions, wherein

• the cams and/or machine elements required for the function of the hollow shaft, when the hollow shaft is inserted at the point and position related to the function, are pushed onto the hollow shaft and positioned;
• an element having approximately the same outside diameter as the inside diameter of the hollow shaft is positioned in at least one end of the hollow shaft;
• the hollow shaft, with the cams and/or machine elements pushed onto it and with the inserted element, is inserted into an IHF tool;
• after the IHF tool has been closed, a medium under the requisite high pressure in the hollow shaft is brought into effect;
• at the same time as the medium acting from inside, at least one plunger is pressed axially against at least one end face of the hollow shaft in order thus to fill the IHF mold by the material flow caused by the pressure effect of the medium and by the mechanical pressure of the plunger, as a result of which the element is enclosed by the material of the hollow shaft, and the cams and/or machine elements are connected to the hollow shaft in a frictional and/or positive-locking manner by the widening of the hollow shaft;
• and in that
• that end of the hollow shaft which is closed by the element is mechanically treated in accordance with the function of the hollow shaft.