Patent ID: 8252210

Claim:
A method for explosive forming of work pieces comprising: arranging a work piece ( 18 ) within a forming device ( 4 ) of a die ( 2 ), the forming device ( 4 ) defining a final shape of the work piece ( 18 ); charging an ignition chamber ( 6 ) of an ignition tube ( 5 ) of the die ( 2 ) with an explosive ( 7 ), the ignition tube ( 5 ) disposed external to the forming device ( 4 ) and wherein the ignition tube includes walls defining a passageway extending from the ignition chamber; and, propagating an energy beam from a location external to the ignition chamber ( 6 ), through a transparent solid medium that is disposed within the passageway and sealingly engages the ignition tube ( 5 ), and to an ignition site ( 36 ) within the ignition chamber ( 6 ), thereby igniting the explosive ( 7 ) within the ignition chamber ( 6 ) of the ignition tube ( 5 ); wherein a detonation front that is formed subsequent to igniting the explosive ( 7 ) propagates along the ignition tube ( 5 ) and into the forming device ( 4 ), to form the work piece ( 18 ) into the final shape as defined by the forming device ( 4 ).