Abstract: A method of shaping a component includes providing a plurality of work-piece blanks. The method also includes generating a contour in each work-piece blank, such that each contour is bordered by a region of material of the respective work-piece blank. The method also includes stacking the work-piece blanks such that the contour of one work-piece blank is aligned with the contours of the other blanks. The method additionally includes simultaneously annealing the region of material bordering the respective contour of each stacked work-piece blank to thereby enhance formability of the region of material. Furthermore, the method includes forming a shape in at least one of the work-piece blanks via stretching the annealed region of material bordering the respective contour to thereby shape at least one component. The component can be a structural reinforcement for a vehicle.

Abstract: A method of shaping a component includes providing a plurality of work-piece blanks The method also includes generating a contour in each work-piece blank, such that each contour is bordered by a region of material of the respective work-piece blank. The method also includes stacking the work-piece blanks such that the contour of one work-piece blank is aligned with the contours of the other blanks The method additionally includes simultaneously annealing the region of material bordering the respective contour of each stacked work-piece blank to thereby enhance formability of the region of material. Furthermore, the method includes forming a shape in at least one of the work-piece blanks via stretching the annealed region of material bordering the respective contour to thereby shape at least one component. The component can be a structural reinforcement for a vehicle.

Abstract: A small displacement, preferably bidirectional motor (20) is provided which includes a chassis (22), main actuator assembly (24), and forward and rearward clutch assemblies (26,28), as well as an output (106-110) coupled to an external load (222) to be translated. The main actuator assembly (24) includes a plurality of primary magnetostrictive actuators (50-54). The clutch assemblies (26,28) each have a secondary magnetostrictive actuator (88,148), a ramp (90, 150) interengageable with a roller cage (136, 196), and are designed as passively-engaged, actively-disengaged, one-way clutches which are unloaded before disengagement thereof in order to prevent undue clutch wear. Forward translation of the output (106-110) is obtained by inchworm-type incremental motion, whereas rearward translation occurs by an initial forward motion followed by a greater rearward motion to achieve a net rearward displacement.