Device and method for hot stamping

Abstract

A forming device for hot forming a component, such as a steel door panel for a vehicle, is provided. The forming device includes an upper cam slide and a lower fill slide which form a heated steel blank into the component therebetween. The upper cam slide and the lower fill slide are designed to form the desired shape and material properties in the component, such that no post forming operations are needed. The lower fill slide also retracts from the upper cam slide after forming the component, such that the component can be easily removed from the forming device and a backdraft situation is avoided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A forming device for hot forming a component, the forming device comprising:
 an upper cam slide and a lower fill slide which form a component therebetween;   the lower fill slide being capable of retracting from the upper cam slide after forming the component, such that the component can be removed from the forming device with a backdraft.   
     
     
         2 . The forming device according to  claim 1  further including an upper pad adjacent the upper cam slide for engaging the component and a saw tooth driver disposed beneath the lower fill slide. 
     
     
         3 . The forming device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper cam slide and the lower fill slide include holes for conveying a cooling fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The forming device according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper cam slide extends from an upper die and the lower fill slide is disposed above a lower die. 
     
     
         5 . The forming device according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper cam slide presents an upper forming surface and the lower fill slide presents a lower forming surface which together form the component having the desired shape and material properties therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The forming device according to  claim 5 , wherein the upper forming surface extends outward toward the lower fill slide and presents a corner. 
     
     
         7 . The forming device according to  claim 6 , wherein the lower forming surface extends inward away from the upper cam slide and presents a ledge, and the corner of the upper forming surface rests on the ledge of the lower forming surface when the forming device is in a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The forming device according to  claim 5 , wherein the lower forming surface presents a shape corresponding to a shape of the upper forming surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method of hot forming a component, comprising:
 forming a heated blank between an upper cam slide and a lower fill slide;   the upper cam slide and lower fill slide having dimensions and pressure capability which form the blank into a component having a desired shape and material properties without post forming or secondary operations;   retracting the lower fill slide from the upper cam slide after forming the component to the desired shape and obtaining the desired material properties; and   removing the component from the forming device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the component is a door panel for a vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the component includes two walls presenting an angle ranging from 10 to 20 degrees therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the component is removed without a backdraft. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein an upper pad is disposed adjacent to the upper cam slide, and the method further includes engaging the component with the upper pad during the forming step. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a saw tooth driver is located beneath the lower cam slides and the method further includes retracting the saw tooth driver after the forming step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  including forming the blank into the component while the blank is at a temperature ranging from 950° C. to 1250° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the upper cam slide and the lower fill slide are present in a forming device and including heating the blank outside of the forming device before the forming step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9  including quenching the component between the upper cam slide and the lower fill slide after the forming step. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the quenching step includes conveying cooling fluid through holes of the upper cam slide and the lower fill slide after the forming step and while the upper cam slide and the lower fill slide engage the component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the upper cam slide presents an upper forming surface and the lower fill slide presents a lower forming surface which together form the component having the desired shape and material properties therebetween, and the lower forming surface presents a shape corresponding to a shape of the upper forming surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the upper forming surface extends outward toward the lower fill slide and presents a corner, the lower forming surface extends inward away from the upper cam slide and presents a ledge, and the corner of the upper forming surface rests on the ledge of the lower forming surface when the forming device is in a closed position.