Abstract: An apparatus and method for deep drawing a heavy gage workpiece into a drawn part. A lower die section includes a die cavity therein and a base mounting surface thereon, and further includes a die radius defined between the base mounting surface and the die cavity. Riser blocks mount to the base mounting surface of the die for supporting the workpiece at a predetermined elevation above the base mounting surface of the die. A punch having an end face is capable of reciprocating past the riser blocks and into and out of the die cavity. The workpiece is located on the riser blocks over the die cavity. The punch is advanced from a retracted position into the die cavity, wherein the end face of the punch contacts the workpiece such that the punch and the riser blocks cooperate to pre-form the workpiece therebetween as the punch moves toward the die, but before the workpiece enters the die cavity.

Abstract: An optical recording medium including a substrate, a metal underlayer deposited over the substrate wherein the underlayer has a substantially low thermal conductivity, a recording layer over the metal underlayer, and a transparent protective layer over the recording layer.