Patent ID: 7644600

Claim:
Method for forming an essentially flat blank ( 12 ) of metal into a thin-walled, shell-type body ( 14 ), with the blank ( 12 ) being clamped over its circumference ( 22 ) to a supporting structure ( 16 ) with a mold chamber ( 18 ) in which the blank ( 12 ) is held during increasing deformation into a thin-walled, shell-type body ( 14 ), the rear face ( 24 ) of the blank ( 12 ) facing towards the mold chamber ( 18 ) being sealed with respect to the front face ( 26 ) of the blank ( 12 ) facing away from the mold chamber ( 18 ), a vacuum being applied to the mold chamber ( 18 ) forming the closure of the blank ( 12 ) and the blank ( 12 ) being deformed into a thin-walled, shell-type body ( 14 ) by a defined evacuation of the mold chamber ( 18 ) and by at least one forming tool ( 50 ) applied to the front face ( 26 ) of the blank ( 12 ), with the blank ( 12 ) and the at least one forming tool ( 50 ) being moved, relative to each other.