Method for producing a component by further forming a preformed contour

Abstract

In a method for producing a component by further forming of a preformed contour of a blank, the blank which has previously been cut to size at ambient temperature from a strip or a metal sheet undergoes after optional further manufacturing steps carried out at ambient temperature, e.g. punching or cutting operations to realize recesses or openings, in selected edge regions that have been strain hardened by the punching or cutting operations to obtain a preformed contour a first forming operation at ambient temperature. The edge regions intended to undergo the forming operation or at least the edge regions that have undergone the first forming operation are heated to a temperature of at least 600° C. for maximal 10 seconds. After the heat treatment, the edge regions undergo at any time a second forming operation or further forming operations at ambient temperature with respectively preceding heat treatments.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for producing a component, said method comprising:
 subjecting a blank that has been cut to size beforehand at ambient temperature from a strip or metal sheet to a manufacturing step to thereby produce a recess or opening;   subjecting the recess or opening to a first forming operation at ambient temperature to produce a preformed contour with an edge region that became strain hardened as a result of the manufacturing step;   heating an edge region of the recess or opening or at least the edge region that was subjected to the first forming operation to a temperature of at least 600° C. for a period of maximal 10 seconds; and   subjecting the edge region after being heated at any time to a second forming operation or further forming operations at ambient temperature, with each of the further forming operations being preceded by a heat treatment.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the manufacturing step includes a punching or cutting operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising preforming the strip or metal sheet, from which the blank used for the production of the component is cut to size, in a pretreatment step prior to the first forming operation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the component is obtained by the second forming operation. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein after the second forming operation any number of further forming steps of the edge region are carried out at ambient temperature, wherein each of the further forming steps is preceded by a further temperature treatment of the edge region at at least 600° C. for a period of maximal 10 seconds. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the edge region undergoing the first forming operation is heated to a temperature of at least 600° C. for a period of 0.02 to 10 seconds. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the edge region undergoing the first forming operation is heated to a temperature of at least 600° C. for a period of 0.1 to 2 seconds. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the edge region undergoing the first forming operation is heated to a temperature of 600° C. to a solidus temperature. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the edge region undergoing the first forming operation is heated to a temperature from a transformation temperature Ac 1  to a solidus temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein heating of the edge region to a temperature of at least 600° C. is implemented inductively, conductively, by radiation heating or by laser radiation. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the blank has an organic and/or metallic coating. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the metallic coating contains Zn, Mg, Al and/or Si. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a heat treatment of the blank, starting from an edge, takes place in a region which corresponds at most to a thickness of the blank. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising flushing an area about the edge region with inert gas during and optionally before and/or after undergoing heat treatment for protection against oxidation. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the metal sheet is made from a steel comprising a following alloy composition in wt.-%: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   C 
                    0.01-0.2% 
                 
                     
                   Si 
                     0.2-4.0% 
                 
                     
                   Mn 
                     0.5-4.0% 
                 
                     
                   Al 
                   0.02-0.1  
                 
                     
                   Ti 
                   0.0-0.2 
                 
                     
                   V 
                   0.0-0.3 
                 
                     
                   Nb 
                   0.0-0.1 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
       with optional addition of Cr, Ni, Mo, B, balance iron, including impurities resulting from smelting. 
     
     
         33 . A method, comprising:
 cutting a blank from a strip or a metal sheet of steel at ambient temperature;   subjecting the blank to a manufacturing step to thereby produce a recess or opening;   subjecting the recess or opening to a first forming operation at ambient temperature to produce a preformed contour with an edge region that became strain hardened as a result of the manufacturing step;   heating the edge region that was subjected to the first forming operation to a temperature of at least 600° C. for a period of maximal 10 seconds; and   subjecting the edge region after being heated at any time to a second forming operation at ambient temperature, thereby enabling the blank to be used in the production of a component.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the edge region undergoing the first forming operation is heated to a temperature of at least 600° C. for a period of 0.02 to 10 seconds. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the edge region undergoing the first forming operation is heated to a temperature of at least 600° C. for a period of 0.1 to 2 seconds.