Abstract: An apparatus for forging a hollow body has forging tools which are arranged in a centrically symmetrical way about a forging axis, and a forging mandrel. The forging mandrel has a mandrel core and mandrel segments which are distributed over the circumference of the mandrel core, are exchangeably held on the mandrel core, and form forming surfaces for the hollow space of the hollow body.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus and a working system which can position a workpiece with better accuracy at a lower cost and in a reduced space even when the workpiece is heavy are provided. The positioning apparatus has 3 robot arms (1)-(3) each having an arm and an actuator which drives the arm, a mounting platform (5) which is supported by the ends of the three robot arms (1)-(3), a securing jig (6) which secures a workpiece W which is mounted on the mounting platform (5) to the mounting platform (5), and a controller (9) which controls the operation of each of the actuators.

Abstract: A hardenable steel sheet is treated with press-forming by means of a die. The method is comprised of: heating the steel sheet to a temperature of an Ac3 point or higher; carrying out a primary press on the heated steel sheet so as to give a local strain to a limited part of the steel sheet; keeping the steel sheet in a state apart from the die shortly after the primary press; and carrying out a press on the steel sheet kept in the state and retain the steel sheet in close contact with the die.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sheet metal stamping device and methods for reducing the size of a blank required for producing a stamped part therefrom than is conventionally possible. The device utilizes an intermediate clamp section with projections having clamping formations located thereon which complement clamping formations located on a first die section. The intermediate clamp section projections allow for the use of a smaller blank size as less addendum material is required to secure the blank during the stamping process. The blank is secured using the intermediate clamp section and the first die section prior to the second die section engaging the blank to stamp the part. In some embodiments, retention beads resultant from the clamping process may remain in the stamped part, that being inside a trim line. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a blank shifter may be provided to locate the blank between the die sections prior to clamping.

Abstract: A process for making an article of a titanium alloy having ?? phase as a major phase according to the present invention includes providing a work piece of a titanium alloy consisting essentially of 7-9 wt % of molybdenum and the balance titanium and having ?? phase as a major phase; and cold working at least a portion of the work piece at room temperature to obtain a green body of the article, wherein the cold worked portion of the green body has a thickness which is 20%-80% of that of the at least a portion of the work piece, and the cold worked portion has ?? phase as a major phase.

Abstract: A pipe manipulator is configured to move a pipe in an apparatus for bending a pipe. The apparatus includes a feeding device, a heating device configured to annularly surround the pipe. at least one bending arm disposed axially downstream from the heating device in a pipe feed direction, and a bending lock disposed on the at least one bending arm and configured to grasp a pipe section to be bent and to move around a bending axis of rotation during a feeding of the pipe. The pipe manipulator includes a receiving sleeve axially displaceable in the pipe feed direction and disposed displaceably in the feeding device at an end of the pipe. The receiving sleeve is configured to reach into the pipe and to firmly clamp the pipe from an inside of the pipe and to guide the pipe in a defined manner axially through the heating device.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a support structure, preferably a support structure for a vehicle seat having at least one seat shell for the seat part and/or the backrest of the vehicle seat, having the following method steps of producing a metal semi-finished product and reshaping it into an essentially flat plate, detaching a plate part from the plate, and deforming the plate part, the production of the metal semi-finished product being performed by extrusion. The semi-finished product may be already formed into a flat plate by the extrusion or the extrusion is performed with production of a curved plate, which is subsequently reshaped into a flat plate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a contact terminal including a contact portion that slides against a surface of a conductive contact plate. The manufacturing method includes forming a projection in a metal plate by performing a drawing process, wherein the projection projects in a thicknesswise direction of the metal plate and has a larger diameter than the contact portion. The manufacturing method further includes forming the contact portion from the projection by performing a contraction pressing process at least once on the projection so that the diameter of the projection gradually decreases, while the height of the projection remains the same or decreases in a stepwise manner.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite component, in which a hollow section is expanded, at least in regions, by internal high pressure. In a first step a region of the hollow section is expanded until it comes to lie against an edge region of a cavity of a combined hydroforming and injection mold. In a second step the cavity is filled with an injection molding compound. In a third step the hollow section, at least in regions, is expanded further, which increases the internal high pressure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a duplex stainless steel wire product starting from wire rod, includes the steps of: roughening the wire rod surface; applying a carrier coating on the wire rod surface; peeling the wire rod using a shaving die comprising cemented carbide; roughening the wire rod surface; applying a carrier coating on the wire rod surface; and drawing to final wire dimension. In the peeling step, the shaving die used has a rake face land angle ? which is 10-30°, a rake angle ? which is 10-25°, a clearance angle ? which is 3-10°, a rake face land width w which is 0.1-0.5 mm, and an edge radius which is 0.02-0.08 mm. The duplex stainless steel wire product manufactured according to the method exhibits excellent fatigue resistance.

Abstract: A vertical Pittsburgh seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface for positioning a duct section thereon in a vertical orientation, a track mechanism for moving a carriage assembly which holds seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper position, and upper and lower clamping members movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position wherein each clamping member is positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, the seam forming assembly includes a pair of roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other roller member being substantially cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A conduit bender having a unitary frame is mounted to a wheeled base which provides for transportation of the bender. A braking assembly provides for simplified locking of the wheels to secure the bender in a location. The bender is mounted to the base through a pivoting assembly which allows for bending of conduit in either a horizontal or vertical plane. A circuit is provided for controlling the bending operation. An auto-sensing portion of the circuit receives information regarding the characteristics of the conduit to be bent upon placement of the conduit in the bender. A feed back portion of the circuit is used to provide a precise bending operation.

Abstract: A rolling mill roll neck is sealed by interposing a seal between a roll flinger having a first axial surface and an opposing second axial surface of a roll housing retaining plate. The seal is biased into contact against one of the axial surfaces with a pressurized fluid source, such as compressed air. As the seal wears during roll neck operation the pressurized fluid maintains biasing contact between the seal and the axial surface. The remainder of the intact seal is remains pressed into contact with the mating, opposing axial surface, for example that of a roll flinger or a retaining plate. Advantageously the seal is housed in a stationary retaining plate that is in opposed axial relationship with a rotating flinger.

Abstract: An assembly for press forming a deformable material including: a first die array including a plurality of dies, the first die array defining a first die profile; a second die array that is complementary with the first die array and including a plurality of dies, the second die array defining a second die profile that is complementary with the first die profile; and a drive for driving at least one of the first die array and the second die array; wherein in use the plurality of dies of the first die array and the plurality of dies of the second die array sequentially engage the deformable material along a processing length to deform the deformable material to a predetermined profile.

Abstract: A die necking apparatus comprising a co-axial helical cam set having a lower cam and an upper cam, the lower cam and upper cam sharing at least one mating surface, the lower cam attached to a co-axial cam center shaft, the upper cam attached to a co-axial forming die, and wherein axial rotation of the upper cam is adjustable relative to the lower cam.

Abstract: A hemming head device and method for hem forming one or more edges of deformable material. The hemming head device includes dual biasing spring members which provide a resistive force whether the hemming wheel is in a push hemming operation on an exterior joint edge or in a pull hemming operation on an interior joint edge. The device further includes a quick connect device for selectively connecting hemming wheels and other forming devices to the head and a gauge to measure the relative position or resistive force applied on the forming member by the biasing members. A method for hem forming a workpiece using dual biasing spring members is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for extruding materials. In certain embodiments, one or more hollow billets are loaded onto an elongate mandrel bar and transported along the mandrel bar to a rotating die. The billets are transported through fluid clamps, which engage the mandrel bar and provide cooling fluid to the mandrel bar tip, and through mandrel grips, which engage the mandrel bar and prevent the mandrel bar from rotating. One or more press-rams advance the billets through a centering insert and into the rotating die. A quench assembly is provided at an extrusion end of the extrusion press to quench the extruded material. A programmable logic controller may be provided to control, at least in part, operations of the extrusion press system.

Abstract: An assembly configured to modify a surface or feature of a workpiece by hot isostatic pressing. The assembly comprising: a flexible membrane adapted to at least partially form an enclosure around the workpiece; and a former for placement adjacent to the workpiece, the former being configured to modify the surface or feature of the workpiece. A method of modifying a surface or feature of a workpiece, the workpiece having been previously formed by an additive manufacturing technique, by hot isostatic pressing. The method comprising: placing the previously-formed workpiece adjacent to a former adapted to modify the surface or feature of the workpiece; enclosing the workpiece in an enclosure at least partially formed by a membrane; and performing a hot isostatic pressing process on the workpiece.

Abstract: A tool for removing a first shaft from a second shaft, in which the first and the second shafts are coupled by fasteners. The tool generally includes the flanged connection and a driving rod. One or more apertures extend completely through a first portion extend into the second flange portion a distance less than the thickness of the second flange portion. The driving rod has first and second ends, with a removable cap adapted to engage the second end to provide a striking surface. At least one removable driver tip is also provided, having a connecting end adapted to engage the first end, and a driver tip, sized to fit into the aperture and extending outward from the connecting end. The driver tip is angled such that the second end of the driving rod is accessible when the driver tip is inserted into the aperture.

Abstract: A hem is formed in two abutting surfaces of a work piece in a two-pass process in which the work piece is pre-hemmed by a reciprocating tool in a first pass and in which the hem is then formed from the pre-hem by the same reciprocating tool in a second pass upon inversion of the work piece. In especially preferred aspects, the reciprocating tool has an angled contact surface that cooperates with a corresponding static tool.