Abstract: For in mold spraying, a double-inclined mixing nozzle is connected obliquely and fixedly with a side surface of a third half-mold through a lateral sealing structure and connected with a side surface of a first half-mold in an inclined and sealing manner, side faces of a first half-mold and the third half-mold are respectively provided with installation inclined surfaces. A lateral sealing structure includes a mounting plate and a sealing member. The sealing member is sleeved on the double-inclined mixing nozzle and is in transition fit with the double-inclined mixing nozzle and the mounting plate respectively. A butt sealing groove provided on the installation inclined surface of the first half-mold and is in sealing fit with the mounting plate.

Abstract: A method for forming a component to a target shape from an aluminium blank workpiece is disclosed, the method comprising: (a) cold forming an aluminium blank workpiece between a set of dies, thereby producing a component fully or partially formed to a target shape; (b) solution heat treating the fully or partially formed component by heating to or above a solution heat treatment (SHT) temperature and substantially maintaining that temperature until SHT has been completed, thereby producing a solution heat treated fully or partially formed component; and (c) quenching the solution heat treated fully or partially formed component whilst held between a set of dies, wherein holding between the dies may provide additional forming at the same time as quenching, to produce a component fully formed to the target shape.

Abstract: A method of forming a part from sheet metal alloy is provided, for example, forming a part from aluminium alloy. The method comprises heating (A) the sheet metal alloy to a temperature at which solution heat treatment of the alloy occurs and so as to achieve solution heat treatment. The sheet is cooled (B) at at least the critical cooling rate for the alloy and then placed between dies to form (C) it into or towards the part.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus for extruding a material. The apparatus comprises an extrusion die arranged to receive material to be extruded from a first direction and from a second direction. The extrusion die comprises an orifice from which material is extruded in a third direction. The first, second and third directions are not all in the same plane. None of the first, second and third directions is parallel to any other of those directions.

Abstract: A die mechanism comprises a first support member and a second support member, the first and second support members extending in a first direction; a plurality of pin modules between the first and second support members, wherein each of the plurality of pin modules extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and each pin module comprises a plurality of pins; wherein heights of ends of the plurality of pins within each of the plurality of pin modules together define a shape profile for shaping the component during creep-age forming; and wherein: the plurality of pin modules are configured to be movable along the first and second support members in the first direction, and/or the plurality of pins are configured to be movable along respective pin modules in the second direction.

Abstract: A method of extruding a material, comprising providing the material into an extrusion chamber of an extrusion apparatus, wherein the extrusion chamber comprises an extrusion orifice and the extrusion apparatus comprises a first compression element and a second compression element in communication with the interior of the extrusion chamber, the first and second compression elements being independently movable relative to the extrusion chamber, moving at least one of the first and second compression elements to compress the material within the extrusion chamber and cause a velocity gradient in the extrusion material across the extrusion orifice and extruding the material through the extrusion orifice such that the velocity gradient forms an extrudate with a curved profile.

Abstract: The method relates to a method of forming an Al-alloy sheet component. The method comprises heating an Al-alloy sheet blank to its Solution Heat Treatment temperature at a heating station and, in the case of alloys not in a pre age hardened temper, maintaining the SHT temperature until Solution Heat Treatment is complete. The sheet blank is then transferred to a set of cold dies and forming is initiated within 10 s of removal from the heating station so that heat loss from the sheet blank is minimised. The cold dies are closed to form the sheet blank into a shaped component, said forming occurring in less than 0.15 s, and the formed component is held in the closed dies during cooling of the formed component. The claimed method will find application for any Aluminium alloy with a microstructure and mechanical properties that can be usefully modified by solution treatment and age-hardening.

Abstract: A method of forming a part from sheet metal alloy is provided, for example, forming a part from aluminium alloy. The method comprises heating (A) the sheet metal alloy to a temperature at which solution heat treatment of the alloy occurs and so as to achieve solution heat treatment. The sheet is cooled (B) at at least the critical cooling rate for the alloy and then placed between dies to form (C) it into or towards the part.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a component. The method comprises creating a preform from a material using additive manufacturing and heat treating the preform at a heating temperature to modify the microstructure of the material. The preform is geometrically unconstrained during the step of heat treating. The method then comprises compressive forming the preform into a predefined arrangement to create the component wherein the step of compressive forming is effective to close pores and diffusively bond the material. The material may then be geometrically constrained as it is cooled, for example within the die used for compressive forming.

Abstract: A method of forming a part from sheet metal alloy is provided, for example, forming a part from aluminium alloy. The method comprises heating (A) the sheet metal alloy to a temperature at which solution heat treatment of the alloy occurs and so as to achieve solution heat treatment. The sheet is cooled (B) at least the critical cooling rate for the alloy and then placed between dies to form (C) it into or towards the part.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a force to a specimen is provided. The apparatus comprises: an output rotatable member comprising a plurality of connection points; a plurality of rigid connection means, each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each connection means is pivotably coupled to one of the plurality of connection points of the output rotatable member; a plurality of guide members; and a plurality of specimen holders, each slidably mounted to one of the guide members and pivotably coupled to the second end of one of the plurality of connection means.

Abstract: A method is provided for artificially ageing a material, comprising heating the material according to a predefined temperature profile, wherein the temperature profile comprises a variable target temperature; and applying a paint bake cycle to the material.

Abstract: Method of forming a component of complex shape from an Al-alloy sheet or a Mg-alloy sheet. The method includes the steps of: a) heating the sheet to a temperature below the solution heat treatment (SHT) temperature for the alloy; b) forming the heated sheet between heated dies into or towards the complex shape; c) heating the sheet to at least its SHT temperature and substantially maintaining that temperature until SHT has been completed; and d) quenching the solution heat treated sheet between cold dies and at the same time completing the forming into the complex shape or maintaining that shape.

Abstract: A die mechanism comprises a first support member and a second support member, the first and second support members extending in a first direction; a plurality of pin modules between the first and second support members, wherein each of the plurality of pin modules extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and each pin module comprises a plurality of pins; wherein heights of ends of the plurality of pins within each of the plurality of pin modules together define a shape profile for shaping the component during creep-age forming; and wherein: the plurality of pin modules are configured to be movable along the first and second support members in the first direction, and/or the plurality of pins are configured to be movable along respective pin modules in the second direction.

Abstract: A method of forming a part from sheet metal alloy is provided, for example, forming a part from aluminium alloy. The method comprises heating (A) the sheet metal alloy to a temperature at which solution heat treatment of the alloy occurs and so as to achieve solution heat treatment. The sheet is cooled (B) at least the critical cooling rate for the alloy and then placed between dies to form (C) it into or towards the part.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-material gear is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (a) heating a first pre-form element of a first material to a temperature at which the first material can be formed; (b) heating a second pre-form element of a second material to a temperature at which the second material can be formed; and (c) forming the first and second pre-form elements in a die at least towards the shape of the gear, thereby providing bonding between the elements.

Abstract: A search request sent by a user is received to obtain one or more query words included in the search request. Historical operating information relating to a data object in a search result corresponding to the query words is conducted statistics. An attribute of the data object is selected as a specified attribute to generate a probability distribution model of the attribute value on the specified attribute of the data object. A respective probability corresponding to the attribute value of each data object on the specific attribute in the research result corresponding to the search request sent by the current user is calculated by using the probability distribution model. The output rank of the data objects in the search result is adjusted by using the probability. The present techniques improve reasonability of displaying the data objects in the search result and provide more accurate result.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming a part from sheet steel. The method comprises the steps of (a) heating the sheet to a temperature at which austenitisation occurs; and (b) forming the sheet between dies into the part, father cooling the formed sheet. There is an additional step between (a) and (b) of applying cooling means to the sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-material gear is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (a) heating a first pre-form element of a first material to a temperature at which the first material can be formed; (b) heating a second pre-form element of a second material to a temperature at which the second material can be formed; and (c) forming the first and second pre-form elements in a die at least towards the shape of the gear, thereby providing bonding between the elements.

Abstract: Method of forming a component of complex shape from an Al-alloy sheet or a Mg-alloy sheet. The method includes the steps of: a) heating the sheet to a temperature below the solution heat treatment (SHT) temperature for the alloy; b) forming the heated sheet between heated dies into or towards the complex shape; c) heating the sheet to at least its SHT temperature and substantially maintaining that temperature until SHT has been completed; and d) quenching the solution heat treated sheet between cold dies and at the same time completing the forming into the complex shape or maintaining that shape.