Patent ID: 7114362
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: B21C

Abstract:
1. A method for contouring a workpiece for the manufacture of an automotive instrument panel support beam, said method including the steps of: selecting a starting metal blank having a uniform wall thickness along the length thereof and a constant outside dimension substantially the same outside dimension as desired for producing a drivers side support beam portion comprised of a first constituent of length of said starting metal blank for the manufacture of an automotive instrument panel support beam; reducing the cross sectional size of an end portion of said starting metal blank remote to said drivers side support beam portion; operating a gripper to engage said end portion produced by said step of reducing; and producing a passenger side support beam portion by using said gripper for drawing said starting metal blank only partly through a contoured die or only partly through each one of a succession of contoured dies to reduce the outside dimension essentially only along a part of said starting metal blank remaining between said driver side support beam portion and said end portion without producing an appreciable increase to said uniform wall thickness for producing a second constituent of length in the manufacture of an automotive instrument panel support beam.