Patent ID: 6945085

Claim:
A method of making a finished thin-walled metal container using a high-strength alloy, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a metal slug; (b) impact extruding said metal slug to form a cylindrical cup having a base with a base thickness, walls with an outer diameter and wall thickness, and an open end opposite said base, said base thickness of said cup being about the thickness of the base of the finished container and said outer diameter being at least about 10% larger than the outer diameter of the finished container; (c) drawing said impact extruded cup through at least one drawing die to reduce said outer diameter to about the outer diameter of the finished container without substantially reducing said wall thickness of said extruded cup; and (d) wall ironing said drawn cup through at least one wall ironing ring to reduce said outer diameter and said wall thickness of said drawn cup to the outer diameter and wall thickness of the finished container.