Abstract: The invention relates to a method for press hardening sheet steel components in which a blank is detached from a sheet steel band composed of a hardenable steel alloy and the blank is then austenitized, in that it is heated to a temperature greater than Ac3 and is then inserted into a forming tool and formed in the forming tool, and during the forming, is cooled at a speed greater than the critical hardening speed, characterized in that in order to inhibit microcracks of the second type from being produced during the forming and hardening process in the sheet metal blanks that are to be formed, oxygen is supplied adjacent to the positive radii and/or drawing edges; the invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for press hardening sheet steel components in which a blank is detached from a sheet steel band composed of a hardenable steel alloy and the blank is then austenitized, in that it is heated to a temperature greater than Ac3 and is then inserted into a forming tool and formed in the forming tool, and during the forming, is cooled at a speed greater than the critical hardening speed, characterized in that in order to inhibit microcracks of the second type from being produced during the forming and hardening process in the sheet metal blanks that are to be formed, oxygen is supplied adjacent to the positive radii and/or drawing edges; the invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for heating sheet steel blanks, in particular for shaping and hardening in a press hardening process, wherein there is a heating device, and the heating device includes at least one heating module; the at least one heating module has a boxlike element embodied in cassette-like fashion, which has a plate-shaped or rectangular cavity that has a flat plate on an underside; at least one heating element is positioned in the cavity, which element is embodied as an electrical resistance heating element, and the cavity is completely filled in an embedding fashion so that it is completely enclosed by a highly heat-conductive material, preferably copper, and relates to a method therefor.

Abstract: A method for producing a hardened steel component in which a sheet blank is stamped out and the stamped sheet blank is heated to a temperature ?Ac3 and as needed, is kept at this temperature for a predetermined time in order to carry out the austenite formation and then the sheet blank, which has been heated all over or only in some regions, is transferred to a forming die, is formed in the forming die, and in the forming die, is cooled at a speed that lies above the critical hardening speed and is thus hardened or else the sheet blank is completely cold formed and the formed sheet blank is heated all over or only in some regions to a temperature >Ac3 and as needed, is kept at this temperature for a predetermined time in order to carry out the austenite formation and then the sheet blank, which has been heated and formed all over or only in some regions, is transferred to a hardening die, and is hardened in the hardening die at a speed that lies above the critical hardening speed; the steel material is adj