Abstract: A method of producing a microstructure of a high-alloy steel includes heating the metal stock to a temperature between 1270° C. and 1280° C., at a rate between 40° C./s and 45° C./s, followed by compression applied to the metal stock in a thixotropic process, after which the stock is cooled to ambient temperature. A microstructure is also shown, which includes undissolved metal carbides in the form of globular particles of austenite microstructure and of martensite microstructure.

Abstract: A method of producing pressed metal sheet parts in an integrated process to prepare blanks of non-uniform thickness includes the steps of heating a steel sheet blank in heating equipment to the austenite region of the steel of the sheet steel blank in question, then forming the blank into a flat semi-finished product of non-uniform thickness in forming equipment, then immediately thereafter, without any further hearting of the semi-finished product, deep drawing the semi-finished product in deep drawing equipment into a final spatially shaped part. The method may further include cooling down the final spatially shaped part either during the drawing step or immediately after the deep drawing step in a manner which causes the final spatially shaped part to develop hardening microstructure, which imparts high strength to the final shaped part with non-uniform wall thickness.