Patent ID: 7066000

Claim:
A tooling assembly for hot stretch-forming of a heat-softened sheet metal workpiece, said tooling assembly being adapted for attachment to a plate, said tooling assembly comprising: a forming tool formed of an integral body of metal and including: a layer of predetermined thickness, said layer having a forwardly disposed forming surface thereon against which said workpiece is formed; and a plurality of structures extending rearwardly from said layer and terminating in a rearward surface of said forming tool, said plurality of structures being adapted to support said layer, said plurality of structures defining at least one open cell therebetween to reduce thermal losses emanating away from said forming surface due to at least one of thermal conduction and thermal radiation; a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements embedded within said layer for integrally heating said forming surface to enable hot stretch-forming of said workpiece; thermal insulation disposed within said at least one open cell of said forming tool to reduce thermal losses emanating away from said forming surface due to at least one of thermal radiation and thermal convection; and a plurality of insulative support posts disposed between said forming tool and said plate to establish a gap therebetween, said insulative support posts having greater resistance to thermal conductivity than said forming tool.