Patent ID: 7431766

Claim:
A method of forming, from a precursor material having selectively and controllably process-changeable crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties, a mechanical device possessing (a) a predetermined three-dimensional configuration, and therein (b) a set of mechanical properties linked to this configuration, that are desired for the performance by the completed device of a pre-chosen mechanical task, said method comprising placing a precursor body of such material in a processing zone, selecting a volumetric region in that body which is suitable (a) for the creation therefrom of the desired, predetermined device configuration and (b) for the establishment therein of the desired, configuration-linked set of crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties, within the processing zone, subjecting the selected region to a controlled changing of the crystalline structure therein, and thus of the related mechanical properties, and by that process, achieving, in the selected region, the desired set of configuration-linked mechanical properties.