Patent ID: 9067251
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
1. A method of forming an article from a metal alloy sheet material, the method comprising: stamping the metal alloy sheet material to thereby form a preform having at least one protrusion; wherein the at least one protrusion includes a base portion, a first region having a first thickness and spaced apart from the base portion to thereby have a first maximum height, and a second region interconnecting the base portion and the first region and having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness; wherein the first region has a first hardness and the second region has a second hardness that is less than the first hardness; concurrent to stamping: after stamping, selectively annealing the second region without substantially annealing the first region; and after selectively annealing, concurrently increasing the first maximum height, and substantially equalizing the first thickness and the second thickness to thereby form the article.