Abstract: A forging press includes a die set having a stationary die, a movable die in facing-but-spaced-apart relation to the stationary die along a press axis and defining a workpiece volume therebetween, and an exterior constraint extending circumferentially around the workpiece volume. The movable die has a base level region lying generally in a workpiece plane perpendicular to the press axis, and three rotationally symmetric segments raised above the base level region. Each of the segments forms an angular segment of a disk having an included segment angle and that is angularly separated from the other segments. A press mechanism includes a axial drive operable to move the movable die in a direction parallel to the press axis, and an indexing drive operable to rotate the movable die about the press axis by an indexing rotational angle.

Abstract: Articles are fabricated by collating and heating precursor metallic sheets of different compositions. The collated stack of sheets is heated with an applied pressure for a time sufficient to interdiffuse them either partially to produce a controllably modulated structure or completely to produce a homogeneous structure. The sheets may be collated in a form, and may be deformed during or after heating. The composition and structure of the final article is controllably varied from location to location by varying the composition, arrangement, or thickness of the collated sheets. In one embodiment, reinforcements such as fibers are positioned between the sheets.