Abstract: An aluminum alloy pre-strengthening and hot forming production line is provided, including a pre-strengthening heat treatment mechanism, a forging mechanism, and a trim press. The pre-strengthening heat treatment mechanism includes a roll forging machine, a solid solution furnace, a quenching water tank, an aging furnace, and a heat preservation furnace. The forging mechanism includes an upsetting press machine, and a forging press machine. The upsetting press machine is configured for blanking an heat preserved aluminum alloy bar-shaped blank, and the forging press machine is configured for forging and forming the blanked aluminum alloy bar-shaped blank. The trim press is configured for trimming the forged and formed aluminum alloy rod-shaped blank, so as to obtain an aluminum alloy member meeting a requirement.

Abstract: A stretching machine for extruded profiles comprises a stretching head capable of translating along a predetermined direction (X) on a basement and actuation means for translationally actuating the stretching head with respect to the basement. The actuation means comprise a mechanical drive comprising at least one motor element, which is integral with one of said stretching head and said basement, and at least one driven element, operatively connected to the at least one motor element and integral with the other of said stretching head and said basement, and an electric motor operatively connected to the motor element of the mechanical drive.

Abstract: Provided is a production apparatus for a cathode active material for lithium ion secondary batteries which can improve productivity. The production apparatus is provided with: a conveying device that conveys a raw material of a cathode active material, the raw material containing a metallic compound and a lithium compound, the metallic compound including at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and manganese; and a heating unit in which the raw material is heated, wherein the heating unit has at least one heating member that heats the raw material by heat conduction, the conveying device has a conveying member that conveys the raw material, the heating member heats the raw material via the conveying member, and the conveying member has a retaining part for the raw material of the cathode active material along a side part thereof in a width direction.

Abstract: A mold includes a mold main body (12) including a molding face (12a) and a support base (11) including a mounting surface (15) which tightly contacts a back face (12a) of the mold main body (12), the support base (11) being mounted with the mold main body (12). The mold includes a refrigerant passage (43) through which a refrigerant for cooling the mold main body (12) and the support base (11) flows. The refrigerant passage (43) includes a groove (16) which is open to at least one surface of the mounting surface (15) of the support base (11) and the back face (12b) of the mold main body (12) and extends along the one surface. There can be provided a mold that can uniformly cool the molded product.

Abstract: Heat treatment equipment for metal plate strips, and a roller quenching flow zone control device for metal plate strips. The device includes a middle water diversion ring sleeve and edge water diversion ring sleeves; the middle water diversion ring sleeve is installed at the middle processing groove in a slit nozzle rear spiral roller and a high-density nozzle rear spiral roller in a high-pressure cooling section of a roller quenching machine; and the edge water diversion ring sleeves are installed at the processing grooves in ¼ and ¾ positions in the width direction of the slit nozzle rear spiral roller in the high-pressure cooling section of the roller quenching machine. This can effectively realize uniform distribution of cooling water on the surface of the plate strip, reduce the phenomenon of local non-uniform cooling caused by siltation of cooling water.

Abstract: A catheter that includes a mechanism for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter may include a deflection knob including a first thread, a rod including a second thread that is coupled to the first thread, and a puller wire that is connected to the rod. The rod may additionally include a pocket to which the puller wire may be connected via a joining feature that may be secured in the pocket and attached to a proximal end of the puller wire. The joining feature may include a first ferrule joined, e.g., crimped, to the proximal end of the puller wire and a second ferrule secured, e.g., bonded, in the pocket and joined, e.g., crimped, to the first ferrule.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aluminum-based plated steel that is provided for vehicles by hot forming, an aluminum-based alloy plated steel manufactured using the same, and method of manufacturing thereof.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade component of a rotor blade includes feeding a flat sheet of material into a thermoforming system, wherein the material comprises at least one of a thermoplastic or thermoset material. The method also includes heating the flat sheet of material via the thermoforming system. Further, the method includes shaping the heated flat sheet of material via at least one roller of the thermoforming system into a desired curved shape. Moreover, the method includes dispensing the shaped sheet of material from the thermoforming system. In addition, the method includes cooling the shaped sheet of material to form the rotor blade component.

Abstract: A strip flotation furnace for controlling the temperature of a metal strip has a flotation nozzle bar extending through the furnace transversely to a strip running direction of the strip. The flotation nozzle bar has two opposing first flotation nozzle rows spaced apart by a central region of the flotation nozzle bar. The rows are set up so that corresponding flotation nozzle jets, with a directional component toward the central region, can be generated to provide pressure cushioning for metal strip guiding. A temperature-control nozzle bar extends transversely to and is spaced apart from the flotation nozzle bar along the strip running direction. The temperature-control nozzle bar has two additional opposing temperature-control nozzle rows spaced apart by an additional temperature-control nozzle bar central region. These rows are set up so that corresponding temperature-control nozzle jets, with a directional component opposite to the additional central region, can be generated.

Abstract: A process for joining steel plate includes providing a steel plate and joining the steel plate to another material. The steel plate includes at least one surface having an Al—Si coating. The step of joining the steel plate to another material is performed while the steel plate is in an as- coated condition. Joining is performed using a forging process.

Abstract: An aluminum base wire includes a core wire composed of pure aluminum or an aluminum alloy; a plurality of coating pieces provided so as to be scattered on an outer periphery of the core wire; and a coating layer provided on the outer periphery of the core wire and an outer periphery of each of the plurality of coating pieces. The coating layer includes a first layer that is provided continuously on the outer periphery of the core wire between adjacent coating pieces and the outer periphery of each of the plurality of coating pieces, and a second layer provided on an outer periphery of the first layer. The plurality of coating pieces are each composed of copper or a copper alloy, the first layer is composed of metals that include copper and tin, and the second layer is composed of tin or a tin alloy.

Abstract: An heat treatment apparatus for a vehicle body component includes, a jig base, a lower fixed die fixedly installed on the jig base and supporting the vehicle body component that is press-molded into a predetermined shape, a heating unit installed on the lower fixed die and locally heating the vehicle body component, a plurality of side movable dies that can move reciprocally disposed at both sides of the lower fixed die, installed on the jig base, and selectively combinable with the lower fixed die, a cooling unit installed on each side movable die and cooling a heating portion of the vehicle body component, and an upper movable die that can move reciprocally in the up and down direction correspondingly to the lower fixed die, and configured to clamp the vehicle body component through the lower fixed die and at least one of the side movable dies combined together.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chip structure that includes heater. The heater includes a heating element with a first end and a second end and, between the first and second ends, different portions with different cross-sectional areas. The heating element further includes first and second terminals at the first and second ends, respectively. Current flowing through the heating element between the first and second terminals causes the heating element to generate heat. However, due to the different cross-sectional areas of the different portions, the current densities through those different portions are different and, thus, the different portions of the heating element generate different amounts of heat per unit length. The heating element can be designed and placed on-chip to facilitate local thermal tuning of different regions of a device or of different devices without requiring multiple different heating elements within a relatively small chip area. Also disclosed is an associated method.

Abstract: A hot-stamped part according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises, as a base layer, a steel comprising: 0.28-0.38 wt % of carbon (C); 0.1-0.4 wt % of silicon (Si); 1.2-2.0 wt % of manganese (Mn); from greater than 0 to 0.020 wt % of phosphorus (P); from greater than 0 to 0.003 wt % of sulfur (S); 0.1-0.5 wt % of chromium (Cr); 0.0015-0.0040 wt % of boron (B); 0.025-0.05 wt % of titanium (Ti); and the remainder of iron (Fe) and inevitable impurities, wherein the microstructure of the base layer is full martensite.

Abstract: A forming device that expands a metal pipe material to form a metal pipe includes a die that has an upper die and a lower die, at least one of which is movable, and that form the metal pipe, an electrode that energizes the metal pipe material to heat the metal pipe material, a gas supply part that supplies a gas into the heated metal pipe material to expand the metal pipe material, and a die movement suppressing part that suppresses the movement of the die by an electromagnetic force at least when the energization to the metal pipe material is performed by the electrode.

Abstract: A hot blow forming method for the aluminum alloy sheet carries out a hot blow forming to an aluminum alloy sheet using a first metal mold being a female mold for forming having a protruding surface portion on an inside surface thereof and a second metal mold for gas introduction. Immediately prior to the hot blow forming, a temperature (T1) of the aluminum alloy sheet and a temperature (T2) of the first metal mold satisfy a relation (T1)-(T2)?30° C. and the temperature (T2) is equal to or higher than 400° C. In the hot blow forming, the aluminum alloy sheet is made to be brought into contact with at least a part of the protruding surface portion of the first metal mold within 30 seconds from a start of the gas introduction from the second metal mold.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are presented for loading product containers into a crate wherein the crate is a reusable crate having four sides, which may be distorted bowed or bent relative to a nominal position. The system has a conveyer to convey the crate to an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly then actuates the crate into contact with a bracing assembly. The bracing assembly has four bracing members, each of which has at least one bracing block engaged thereto. Each bracing block has a grasping portion which contacts and bias against one of the four sides of the crate when the crate is actuated into engagement with the bracing assembly so as to reposition the sides of the crate to be in the nominal position.

Abstract: Provided is a hot-dip galvannealed steel sheet for hot stamping use, in which a base steel sheet contains Si in an amount of 0.7% or more, and which has excellent joint strength at a spot-welded part and can exhibit excellent adhesion to a coating film after hot stamping and coating with requiring little restriction of a hot stamp step. In the hot-dip galvannealed steel sheet, a base steel sheet contains, in mass %, 0.10 to 0.5% of C, 0.7 to 2.5% of Si, 1.5 to 3% of Mn and 0.01 to 0.5% of Al. The hot-dip galvannealed steel sheet is characterized in that the Mn concentration in a plating layer is 0.20% or more, the plated amount is 75 g/m2 or less, and the oxygen concentration at the interface between the plating layer and the base steel sheet is 0.50% or less.

Abstract: A clamping device for manufacturing an assembled camshaft for valve-controlled internal combustion engines, in which at least one cam disc with a base circle region and cam region is machined on the running surface and has a cam-disc recess, includes shrinking the cam disc onto a corresponding shaft designed with a defined dimensional overlap by cooling the shaft and heating the cam disc. Before being shrunk onto the shaft, the at least one cam disc is clamped by the clamping device such that a tension force acts on the recess wall region, the tension force corresponding to a predetermined extent to the state of stresses and/or deformation state of the recess wall region after the operation of shrinking the cam disc onto the corresponding shaft. The running-surface machining of the at least one cam disc occurs when the cam disc is clamped by the clamping device.

Abstract: The invention provides a radial ring rolling process for controlling strain distribution of a ring product. In the process, a ring blank is rolled by a main roll and a mandrel that are driven to rotate, while a gap between the main roll and the mandrel continuously decreases in the radial direction of the ring blank. The process includes (A) according to dimensions of the ring product and expected strain, a rolling ratio is firstly determined, dimensions of the ring blank is calculated based on the rolling ratio and the dimensions of the ring product; (B) a rotation speed curve of the mandrel is determined based on the rotation and the radial feeding speeds of the main roll; (C) the ring blank is rolled according to the rotation and radial feeding speeds of the main roll and the calculated rotation speed of mandrel in step (B).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grain oriented electrical steel sheet having excellent core loss and to a method for manufacturing same. The electrical steel sheet according to one aspect of the present invention may have a composition comprising, by weight %, Si: 1.0 to 4.0%, Al: 0.1 to 4.0%, and a rare earth element: 0.0001 to 0.5% by the total content of the whole rare earth element.

Abstract: A method for producing metal sheets from strand-shaped profiles having a low thickness made of magnesium or magnesium alloys, wherein an open or a closed extruded profile is produced in a preceding method step, wherein the extruded profile exiting the extrusion die of an extrusion press is shaped to form a planar metal sheet by the contactless action of electromagnetic forces.

Abstract: Provided is a plastic working method of steel including austenite, the method including: analyzing a strain ratio ?x of an estimated breaking point which is specified during plastic deformation of the steel; heating a steel such that a local temperature Tlocal is within a temperature range indicated by the following expression 1, when T?x represents a strain-induced-transformation-maximum-ductility-temperature in the unit of ° C. for the strain ratio ?x, ?L?x represents the standard deviation of a fitted curve of critical equivalent strain which depends on the strain ratio ?x on a lower temperature side than T?x, ?H?x represents the standard deviation of a fitted curve of critical equivalent strain which depends on the strain ratio ?x on a higher temperature side than T?x, and Tlocal represents a local temperature in the unit of ° C. of the estimated breaking point; and plastically deforming the steel after heating: T?x?2×?L?x?Tlocal?T?x+1.25×?H?x??(Expression 1).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a forming process for hot forming of a steel sheet of a rotor blade to be produced of a wind power installation, including the steps heating the steel sheet in a furnace while the steel sheet is lying on a hearth bogie, displacing the heated steel sheet with the hearth bogie from the furnace into a pressing apparatus for the hot forming operation, transloading the heated steel sheet in the pressing apparatus from the hearth bogie on to a form bogie having a counterpart form, and pressing the steel sheet by at least one pressing punch which presses on the steel sheet in such a way that it is formed between the pressing punch and the counterpart form and in particular assumes the shape of the pressing punch and the counterpart form.

Abstract: A tubular target formed of molybdenum or a molybdenum alloy has an oxygen content of less than 50 ?g/g, a density of greater than 99% of the theoretical density, and an average grain size of less than 100 ?m. The molybdenum or molybdenum alloy tube may be produced by extrusion. In one embodiment, the molybdenum tube has a backing tube of titanium or titanium alloy. In an embodiment, the molybdenum tube has a varying wall thickness with an increase towards its ends.

Abstract: A hot-press formed product can be achieved which has regions corresponding to a shock resistant portion and an energy absorption portion within a single formed product without applying a welding method and achieves the balance of high strength and elongation with a high level according to each region by means of having a first forming region exhibiting a metal structure containing martensite: 80-97 area % and retained austenite: 3-20 area % respectively, the remaining structure being 5 area % or less, and a second forming region exhibiting a metal structure containing annealed martensite or annealed bainite: 30-97 area %, martensite as quenched: 0-67 area %, and retained austenite: 3-20 area %.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coldworking metal are described that reduce the axial flow of metal and increase the radial/tangential flow, thereby improving the fatigue life at an aperture. A tool is inserted through an aperture and its travel speed is reduced when in contact with the metal to reduce axial plastic flow. A sensor as part of the motive system moving the mandrel can sense when the tool contacts the metal and reduces the speed of the tool. The tool may move more quickly when not in contact with the metal to reduce working time than when the mandrel is working the metal. The coldworking tool engages the metal at the aperture at a speed of less than the speed which results in the time duration for the mandrel engaging the metal at the aperture for 35 second per inch of metal thickness at the aperture.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow component, such as a fan blade for a gas turbine engine, includes the steps of: (a) providing first and second panels and a membrane; (b) providing a stop-off material on at least one of the first and second panels and the membrane to define regions where no diffusion bonding is to take place; (c) assembling the panels and the membrane together so the membrane is between the panels; (d) diffusion bonding the panels and the membrane together. The method is such that when assembled in step (c) the membrane does not extend to at least one edge of the first and second panels, so that in that region the first and second panels are diffusion bonded directly to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for crimping a radially expandable stent includes a pressure vessel, shaping balloon, and mandrel. The mandrel is configured to slidingly receive a stent thereon, and to be slidingly advanced into the pressure vessel. The shaping balloon is inflated to radially compress the stent onto the form of the mandrel; such compression need not be uniform. Pressurization of the shaping balloon facilitates the expansion of the balloon to achieve compression of the stent, with depressurization of the shaping balloon causing the balloon to return to an unexpanded state.

Abstract: In order to provide a steel sheet for hot pressing from which a hot-pressed part excellent in perforation corrosion resistance is obtainable and a method of manufacturing a hot-pressed part using the steel sheet for hot pressing, provided is a steel sheet for hot pressing having, sequentially on a surface of a base steel sheet: a plating layer I containing 60% by mass or more of Ni and the remainder consisting of Zn and inevitable impurities, a coating mass thereof being 0.01 to 5 g/m2; and a plating layer II containing 10 to 25% by mass of Ni and the remainder consisting of Zn and inevitable impurities, a coating mass thereof being 10 to 90 g/m2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet-metal part from a panel or a semifinished part made of a material consisting of steel with at least 60 wt. % Fe and a residual austenite content of at least 5%, in which the panel or the semifinished part is at least partially cooled to a temperature below ?20° C. before the shaping and is shaped at a temperature below ?20° C. in a forming tool. The object of providing a method for producing load-compliantly configured components, which on the one hand permits industrial-scale use of low-temperature forming and is configured particularly simply, is achieved by reducing the material temperature of the panel or semifinished part to below ?20° C. is carried out in a thermally regulated cooling apparatus.

Abstract: A high-strength thick-walled electric resistance welded steel pipe has excellent low-temperature toughness and excellent HIC resistance and a yield strength of 400 MPa or more. The steel has a chemical composition consisting of C: 0.025% to 0.084%, Si: 0.10% to 0.30%, Mn: 0.70% to 1.80%, controlled amounts of P, S, Al, N, and O, Nb: 0.001% to 0.065%, V: 0.001% to 0.065%, Ti: 0.001% to 0.033%, and Ca: 0.0001% to 0.0035% on a mass percent basis and the remainder being Fe and incidental impurities, and satisfies Pcm of 0.20 or less.

Abstract: A crucible for growing crystals, the crucible being formed from Molybdenum and Rhenium. A crucible for growing crystals, the crucible being formed from a metal selected from Group V of the Periodic Table of the Elements. A crucible for growing crystals, the crucible comprising a body and a layer formed on at least a portion of the body, the layer being formed out of Molybdenum.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a composite including a matrix comprising a bioerodible magnesium alloy and a plurality of ceramic nanoparticles within the matrix. The bioerodible magnesium alloy has a microstructure including equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains having an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 5 microns. The microstructure can be produced by one or more equal-channel high-strain processes.

Abstract: A method of forming a steel sheet having a tensile strength of 440 MPa or more into a press-formed part including a flange portion and other portions by press forming includes: heating the steel sheet to a temperature of 400° C. to 700° C.; and press-forming the heated steel sheet using draw forming to obtain a press-formed part, with the steel sheet being held at a press bottom dead point in the die for one second to five seconds. Geometric changes such as springback that occur in a panel can thus be suppressed, the dimensional accuracy of the panel can be enhanced, and the desired mechanical properties can easily be obtained in the press-formed part.

Abstract: A machine for cooling and truing cast components made from cast material, and includes a construction for holding cast components and a holder to supply cooling liquids. A method to treat a cast component after removal of the cast component from the casting mould, the cast component being loaded immediately with a cooling liquid in a water spray.

Abstract: A tailored blank for hot stamping includes a welded portion formed by butt-welding a first aluminum-plated steel sheet and a second aluminum-plated steel sheet, an Average Al concentration of a weld metal in the welded portion is in a range of 0.3 mass % to 1.5 mass %, an Ac3 point of the weld metal is 1250° C. or lower, and furthermore, an aluminum layer formed during the butt-welding is present on a surface of the welded portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method for a glassy carbon mold, and, more specifically, relates to a production method for a glassy carbon mold including the steps of: placing a mixture having a thermosetting resin, a curing agent, and a viscosity adjusting solvent between a thermosetting resin substrate and a master pattern formed by a micro-nano process; pressing either the master pattern or the thermosetting resin substrate and applying heat to form a cured thermosetting resin pattern part on the substrate; and removing the master pattern, and subjecting the substrate and the cured thermosetting resin pattern.

Abstract: An improved striking face of a golf club head and a method of manufacturing thereof is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved method of stamped forging variable face geometry onto the rear surface of a striking face from a frontal portion of the striking face; wherein the improved process allows for more precise finished parts with less need for complicated machining. The resulting striking face of a golf club head comprises of a substantially planar frontal surface and a substantially non-planar rear surface, wherein the substantially non-planar rear surface is created via a stamped forging process while the substantially planar frontal surface is created via a machining process.

Abstract: A method tor hoi forging at least one end of a steel reinforcing bar (i.e., a rebar) to simultaneously form a wide head and threads funning around the head during a single step whereby to enable the bar to be coupled end-to-end an adjacent steel bar to be used, for example, to reinforce a precast concrete structure. The end of the bar is first preheated, and the heated end is surrounded by a closing die having a threaded geometry. The die is then nested within and closed around the heated end by an annulus ring of a hydraulic press, or the like. A hydraulic ram of the press is moved through the annulus ring and into engagement with the heated end of the rod so as to apply a compressive force thereto. The metal of the heated end flows into the die so as to be enlarged therein and assume the threaded geometry of the die.

Abstract: Methods to enhance the quality of grain boundary networks are described. The process can result in the production of a metal including a relatively large fraction of special grain boundaries (e.g., a fraction of special grain boundaries of at least about 55%).

Abstract: In a method for producing a component by hot forming of a pre-product made of steel, the pre-product is heated to forming temperature and subsequently formed. The product is heated to a temperature below the AC1-transformation temperature and undergoes a strength increase prior to the heating by cold forming.

Abstract: A method for expanding a rectangular section ring to form a non-rectangular section ring. The method includes heating a rectangular section ring of an alloy to a temperature of between 1000 and 1020° C., preheating an expanding block to a temperature of between 260 and 320° C., nesting the inner circumferential surface of the rectangular section ring on the outer circumferential surface of the expanding block; enabling the expanding block to press the inner circumferential surface of the ring in the radial direction, expanding the inner and outer diameter of the rectangular section ring and decreasing the wall thickness thereof for deforming the rectangular section ring to yield a profiled ring billet, whereby finishing a first expanding; rotating the profiled ring billet for 45° along the central axis, whereby finishing a first rotation; and repeating the expanding process and the rotation to obtain a non-rectangular section ring.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes a body frame, an engine, a lead-in duct, and an air cleaner case. An air cleaner includes a convex cleaner element protruding in a direction opposite to a direction extending toward the lead-in duct, and a convex support frame that supports the inner surface of the cleaner element. The support frame includes an outer frame that supports a periphery of the cleaner element. The cleaner element includes a convex element body and a seal provided adjacent the peripheral edge of the element body to project toward the inner surface of the element body so as to work together with the periphery of the element body to hold the outer frame. The periphery of the element body has a smaller thickness than the other portions of the element body.

Abstract: This high-strength steel plate has a component composition including, by mass %, C: 0.02-0.3%, Si: 1-3%, Mn: 1.8-3%, P: 0.1% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 0.001-0.1%, N: 0.002-0.03%, the rest consisting of iron and impurities. Said steel plate has a microstructure including, in terms of area ratio relative to the entire microstructure, each of the following phases: bainitic ferrite: 50-85%; retained ?; 3% or greater; martensite+the aforementioned retained ?; 10-45%; and ferrite: 5-40%. The C concentration (C?R) in the aforementioned retained austenite is 0.3-1.2 mass %, part or all of the N in the aforementioned component composition is solid solution N, and the amount of said solid solution N is 30-100 ppm.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method of refining alpha-phase grain size in an alpha-beta titanium alloy comprises working an alpha-beta titanium alloy at a first working temperature within a first temperature range in the alpha-beta phase field of the alpha-beta titanium alloy. The alloy is slow cooled from the first working temperature. On completion of working at and slow cooling from the first working temperature, the alloy comprises a primary globularized alpha-phase particle microstructure. The alloy is worked at a second working temperature within a second temperature range in the alpha-beta phase field. The second working temperature is lower than the first working temperature. The is worked at a third working temperature in a third temperature range in the alpha-beta phase field. The third working temperature is lower than the second working temperature. After working at the third working temperature, the titanium alloy comprises a desired refined alpha-phase grain size.

Abstract: A method of processing a non-magnetic alloy workpiece comprises heating the workpiece to a warm working temperature, open die press forging the workpiece to impart a desired strain in a central region of the workpiece, and radial forging the workpiece to impart a desired strain in a surface region of the workpiece. In a non-limiting embodiment, after the steps of open die press forging and radial forging, the strain imparted in the surface region is substantially equivalent to the strain imparted in the central region. In another non-limiting embodiment, the strain imparted in the central and surface regions are in a range from 0.3 inch/inch to 1 inch/inch, and there exists no more than a 0.5 inch/inch difference in strain of the central region compared with the strain of the surface region of the workpiece. An alloy forging processed according to methods described herein also is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for guiding a medical needle, including said medical needle (1) and an insert (2) that is rotatably, translatably, and slidably arranged in the needle (1), wherein said device is characterized in that the insert (2) has, in the free state thereof, a curved distal portion (21), and in that the needle has at least two regions (11, 12), the mechanical behaviors of which are different, wherein the mechanical behaviors of each region (11, 12) and of the curved distal portion (21) of the insert are selected such that a movement of the insert (2) into the needle (1) causes a local deformation of the needle and/or of the insert. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing said device.

Abstract: A method of drawing a material into sheet form includes forming a preform comprising at least one material as a large aspect ratio block wherein a first transverse dimension of the preform is much greater than a second transverse dimension substantially perpendicular to the first transverse dimension. A furnace having substantially linearly opposed heating elements one spaced from the other is provided and the heating elements are energized to apply heat to the preform to create a negative thermal gradient from an exterior surface along the first transverse dimension of the preform inward toward a central plane of the preform. The preform is drawn in such a manner that the material substantially maintains its first transverse dimension and deforms across its second transverse dimension.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a formable metal panel. The method comprises pressing the formable metal panel between a first die and a second die of a first press, creating a pre-formed panel. The pre-formed panel is annealed with a heating element. An evaporative cooling gas is applied to at least one region of the pre-formed panel for rapid cooling. The evaporative cooling gas may comprise a gas mixture including carbon dioxide or nitrogen. The pre-formed panel is transferred from the first press to a second press for additional forming operations.