Abstract: A method of thermal or thermochemical treatment of precision steel components having different wall thicknesses comprising the steps of a) hardening (8), b) low temperature cooling (9) and c) annealing (10), wherein the precision steel components are subjected to a low temperature cooling of only selected parts of the precision steel component to effect a reduction in the occurrence of primary residual austenite in the selected parts thereof.

Abstract: A cup-shaped valve tappet (1,25) for actuating a valve of an internal combustion engine, comprising a cylindrical jacket (2,26) closed at one end by a bottom (3,27) and on whose outer peripheral surface (17,43) a circumferential groove (18,44) is formed by non-cutting shaping, while on an inner peripheral surface (5,37) of said cylindrical jacket a sheet metal cylinder (4,39) is guided substantially without play, said valve tappet further comprising a guide sleeve (7,35) in which a hydraulic clearance compensation element (8,34) is received, characterized in that the sheet metal cylinder (4,39) extends at least up to a region of the jacket (2,26) comprising the circumferential groove (18,44) while a bead (19,46) formed by non-cutting shaping on the inner peripheral surface (5,37) of the jacket (2,26) bears against a circumferential groove (20,48) of the sheet metal cylinder (4,39).