Imperial Innovations Limited

Impression Technologies Limited

Imperial College Innovations Limited

Avic Beijing Aeronautical Manufacturing Technology Research Institute

Ip2ipo Innovations Limited

Jianguo Lin

Alistair Foster

Trevor A Dean

Daniel Balint

George Adam

Omer El Fakir

John Dear

Liliang Wang

Zhiqiang Li

Xia Huang

Yuansong Zeng

Nan Li

Wenbin Zhou

Jinghua Zheng

Kailun Zheng

Aaron C L Lam

Catrin Davies

Trevor Dean

Zhusheng Shi

Lilang Wang

Zhutao Shao

Junquan Yu

Alistair David Foster

Trevor Anthony Dean

Caitrin Davies

Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus for extruding a material. The apparatus includes an extrusion die arranged to receive material to be extruded from a first direction and from a second direction. The extrusion die includes 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.

Apparatus and method for extruding curved profiles

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.

Fast ageing method for stamped heat-treatable alloys

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 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.

Die mechanism, apparatus, and method for shaping a component for creep-age forming

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.

Process for forming aluminium alloy sheet components

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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Jianguo Lin