Press forming method for a semi-solid metal material and press forming apparatus for a semi-solid metal material

Abstract

Provided is a press forming method for a semi-solid material, including: a semi-solid material carrying step of carrying a semi-solid material into a lower die; a first press forming step of regulating, under a Z-direction regulation state in which a change in the Z direction's dimension corresponding to a pressing direction is regulated by an upper die, a change in one of the dimensions in X and Y directions by compressing the material with a transverse punch so that the one becomes equal to a dimension of the product, and then stopping the punch at a position of the compression; and a second press forming step of moving, under a state in which the change in the one is regulated in the above step, the upper die in the pressing direction to compress the material so that the Z direction's dimension becomes equal to the product's dimension.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 721,733, filed May 26, 2015, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-109401, filed May 27, 2014. the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this application.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a press forming method for a semi-solid metal material and a press forming apparatus for a semi-solid metal material, which are configured to form mainly light metal, such as an aluminum alloy, and other kinds of metal under a semi-solid state.BACKGROUND[0003]Hitherto, as a technology of forming an aluminum alloy and the like, there has been used a casting method such as a die casting method, which involves injecting molten metal into a die under pressure so as to obtain a product having a predetermined shape. When the molten metal is used, there arise problems such as short lifetime of the die, and uns...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a press forming method and apparatus for a semi-solid metal material that can make products with homogeneity, excellent mechanical strength, and high quality while boosting productivity when manufacturing products with axially symmetric shapes. This method and apparatus can form products with greater efficiency regardless of their size and can improve the overall quality of the finished products.

Problems solved by technology

When the molten metal is used, there arise problems such as short lifetime of the die, and unsatisfactory quality of a product caused by generation of a shrinkage cavity or the like.

However, at a stage of inserting the semi-solid metal in the sleeve, the metal is brought into contact with the sleeve, to thereby lose its heat.

Those portions do not form a product, thereby leading to a cause of a large amount of wasted material, reduced yield, and increased manufacturing cost.

Further, it is necessary to provide a device for generating a larger force of pressing the plunger as compared to the case of the molten metal, thereby causing a problem such as increased device cost, which is a cause of increased manufacturing cost.

Accordingly, application of the above-mentioned method is limited to the semi-solid metal having such dimensions that the semi-solid metal may be charged into the cavity of the lower die.

Actually, the application is limited to a product having a dimension equal to or larger than a dimension of the semi-solid metal in a direction orthogonal to a compressive force generated along with compression under pressure by lowering of the upper die (or a slide).

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