Patent ID: 7331095

Claim:
A method for making a workpiece, preferably a camshaft which comprises a hollow shaft and cam rings, from a plurality of parts connected to one another in a hydroforming process, the method comprising the steps of: placing the parts of a workpiece into a lower part of a mounting device in a positionally and functionally correct manner, the mounting device comprising a lower part and an upper part, placing the upper part of the mounting device onto the lower part, fixing the parts in a predetermined position in the upper part of the mounting device by clamping and/or suction to load the upper part, moving the loaded upper part of the mounting device into an open hydroforming press having an upper die and a lower die, lowering the upper part of the mounting device, together with the parts which are held securely therein, into the lower die in a precisely defined position by means of positioning elements, releasing the clamps and/or lowering the suction pressure, the parts being held in the lower die in a positionally and functionally correct manner as a result of the lower die taking over the position-securing function, removing the upper part of the mounting device from the hydroforming press, closing the hydroforming press and carrying out the hydroforming process, and after termination of the hydroforming process removing the finished workpiece.