Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Daniel George Valik

Jon T Carter

A method of forming an article from a metal alloy sheet material includes stamping the metal alloy sheet material to thereby form a preform having at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion includes a base portion, a first region having a first thickness and spaced apart from the base portion to thereby have a first maximum height, and a second region interconnecting the base portion and the first region and having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness. After stamping, the method includes selectively annealing the second region without substantially annealing the first region, and, after selectively annealing, concurrently increasing the first maximum height and substantially equalizing the first thickness and the second thickness to thereby form the article.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Daniel George Valik