Imperial Innovations Limited

Impression Technologies Limited

Ip2ipo Innovations Limited

Daniel Balint

Jianguo Lin

Alistair Foster

Trevor A Dean

George Adam

John Dear

Omer El Fakir

Liliang Wang

Lilang Wang

Trevor Anthony Dean

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.

Method of forming parts from sheet metal alloy

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.

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.

Method of forming a component of complex shape from sheet material

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Daniel Balint