Method for producing a camshaft for an internal combustion engine

摘要

Described herein is a method for obtaining a camshaft for an internal-combustion engine having a structure made of a single piece. The camshaft is obtained starting from a metal tubular element (1). The cams (1a) of the camshaft are obtained by expanding the tubular element (1) within a die (S1, S2) using high-pressure fluid. The tubular element (1) can have an enlarged thickness in the portions (1a) that are to form the cams. Forming with high-pressure fluid can be obtained using gas or liquid (for example, water or oil) at high pressure, at room temperature or at a higher temperature. The piece obtained is subjected to thermal treatment and to a grinding operation. In the case of hot forming, the piece may be already case-hardened following upon the forming operation using high-pressure fluid. It may be envisaged that the forming die comprises localized heating means to obtain case-hardening of the portions of the piece that are to constitute the cams following upon the forming operation.