Patent ID: 6868708

Claim:
A method of workpiece controlled shaping of metal having an initial planar or plate form wherein a workpiece is of metal of an ultra-high strength material and is intended for further shaping, the method comprising: determining predetermined folding notches or zones across the workpiece when the workpiece is in its substantially planar form; reducing the tensile limit of the material of the workpiece by heating the workpiece at the notches or zones to a tensile limit substantially lower than the tensile limit of adjacent base material which is not heated; while the workpiece is not yet reshaped, waiting until the workpiece cools; and after the workpiece cools, subjecting the workpiece to bending, folding or shaping along the heated folding notches or zones of the workpiece to reshape the workpiece into a two or three dimensional shape different from the initial forms; wherein the bending, folding, or shaping of the workpiece is performed without using a machine or tool that automatically determines and creates the two or three dimensional shape.