Patent ID: 9649728
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B21D,B23K

Claim:
1. A method of shaping a metallic honeycomb panel having an upper sheet, a lower sheet with opposing upper and lower faces, and a metal honeycomb core fixed between the upper and lower sheets, the method comprising: welding a sacrificial drive sheet to the lower face of the lower sheet, wherein the drive sheet is sized and shaped to cover an entire area of the lower face of the lower sheet, wherein the drive sheet has at least one portion having a first thickness and at least another portion having a second thickness different from the first thickness; heating the drive sheet and metallic honeycomb panel to a creep forming or hot-stretch forming temperature; urging the metallic honeycomb panel and drive sheet into a male or female die mold; cooling and the metallic honeycomb panel and the drive sheet; and cutting the welded drive sheet off of the metallic honeycomb panel.