Patent ID: 7661282

Claim:
A method of progressively deforming a polycrystalline sheet metal workpiece into an article shape when the workpiece must be heated to a predetermined hot forming temperature so that the portions of the sheet metal workpiece can sustain deformation required to attain the shape of the article, the method comprising: predetermining for the sheet metal material a static recrystallization temperature at which a significant portion of the sheet metal upon heating to its hot forming temperature will start recrystallization; and, thereafter, during hot forming of like sheet metal workpieces progressively heating the sheet metal workpiece to its recrystallization temperature and further to its hot forming temperature; commencing deformation of the heated workpiece before it reaches its recrystallization temperature to induce dynamic recrystallization in the workpiece; and continuing heating of the workpiece to its hot forming temperature while continuing deformation of the workpiece to its intended shape.