Method and apparatus for superplastically forming a workpiece
First Claim
1. A method of superplastically forming a workpiece comprising placing the workpiece in a die, heating the whole of the workpiece up to a temperature at which the workpiece is superplastically formable, applying a pressure differential across the workpiece to superplastically form the workpiece to the shape of the die and heating and/or cooling the workpiece to provide a temperature distribution across the workpiece during the superplastic forming process to control the thickness of the workpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of superplastically forming a workpiece comprises placing the workpiece (16) in a die (14) and heating the workpiece (16) to a temperature at which the workpiece (16) is superplastically formable. Pressure is applied to the workpiece (16) to superplastically form the workpiece (16) to the shape of the die (14). The temperature of the workpiece (16) is measured and is analysed to determine the measured temperature distribution of the workpiece (16) at stages in the superplastic forming process. A database of desired temperature distributions of the workpiece (16) at different stages in the superplastic forming process is kept. The measured temperature distribution of the workpiece (16) at each stage in the superplastic forming process is compared with the desired temperature distribution of the workpiece (16) at the stage in the superplastic forming process and heating means and/or cooling means (36, 38, 40, 46, 48, 58, 60, 66, 68, 94, 96) are controlled such that the temperature distribution of the workpiece (16) is adjusted to more closely match the desired temperature distribution of the workpiece (16) to control the thickness of the workpiece (16).
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A method of superplastically forming a workpiece comprising placing the workpiece in a die, heating the whole of the workpiece up to a temperature at which the workpiece is superplastically formable, applying a pressure differential across the workpiece to superplastically form the workpiece to the shape of the die and heating and/or cooling the workpiece to provide a temperature distribution across the workpiece during the superplastic forming process to control the thickness of the workpiece.
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13. An apparatus for superplastically forming a workpiece comprising a die, heating means to heat the workpiece, cooling means to cool the workpiece, means to apply a pressure differential across the workpiece to superplastically form the workpiece to the shape of the die and processor means arranged to control the heating and/or cooling of the workpiece to provide a temperature distribution across the workpiece during the superplastic forming process to control the thickness of the workpiece.
Specification