Magna International Inc.

Kenneth Ray Adams

Gerard Michael Ludtka

Edward Karl Steinebach

Jeremiah John Brady

Mark Justin Jones

Peter Joseph Bertolini

Peter Michael Littkemann

Michael Douglas Blow

Stephen Joseph Flannery

The invention provides a component formed of an aluminum alloy for use in a vehicle, for example an automotive vehicle component requiring high strength, light-weight, and a complex three-dimensional shape, and a method of manufacturing the component. The method begins by providing a blank formed of an aluminum alloy which is already solution heat treated and tempered, and thus has a temper designation of about T4. The method further includes heating the blank to a temperature of 150° C. to 350° C., preferably 190° C. to 225° C. The method next includes quickly transferring the blank to a hot or warm forming apparatus, and stamping the blank to form the complex three-dimensional shape. Immediately after the forming step, the component has a temper designation of about T6, but preferably not greater than T6, and thus is ready for use in the vehicle without any post heat treatment or machining.

High strength aluminum stamping

A die casting apparatus for manufacturing metal parts for automotive vehicle applications is provided. The die casting apparatus includes upper and lower dies presenting forming surfaces and a mold cavity therebetween. A replaceable insert and sub-inserts provide portions of the forming surfaces of the dies in areas most prone to wear and erosion. The replaceable inserts and sub-inserts can be removed and replaced during high volume production, without having to replace the entire die. A wear and/or heat resistant coating can be applied to the inserts and sub-inserts to further increase service life. A plurality of cooling channels can also be formed in the inserts and sub-inserts to improve cycle time and quality of the parts.

Die casting die with removable inserts

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a component formed of an aluminum alloy for use in an automotive vehicle application, for example those requiring high strength, light-weight, and a complex three-dimensional shape. The method begins by providing a blank formed of an aluminum alloy which is already solution heat treated and tempered, and thus has a temper designation of about T. The method further includes heating the blank to a temperature of 150&#xb0; C. to 350&#xb0; C., preferably 190&#xb0; C. to 225&#xb0; C. The method next includes quickly transferring the blank to a hot or warm forming apparatus, and stamping the blank to form the complex three-dimensional shape. Immediately after the forming step, the component has a temper designation of about T, but preferably not greater than T, and thus is ready for use in the automotive vehicle application without any post heat treatment or machining.

A low pressure aluminum casting apparatus includes a pair of steel dies each presenting a molding surface and a heat transfer surface. Copper heat sink blocks are disposed on the heat transfer surfaces to remove heat from the steel dies. Steel contact plates and steel spacer plates can be disposed between the heat sink blocks and the steel dies to optimize cooling. In addition, a portion of each contact plate can be spaced from the steel die to reduce cooling. The steel dies include conventional cooling passages for conveying cooling fluid, and the heat sink blocks, contact plates, and spacer plates also include cooling channels for conveying cooling fluid.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Kenneth Ray Adams