INTEGRATED DIE FORMING AND WELDING PROCESS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A forming system for shaping a metal article includes a pair of die members having a welding station associated therewith. The die members are operative to shape a workpiece disposed therebetween, and the welding station carries out welding operation on the article. The die members may be part of a die quench set which shapes and quenches a heated article. Welding may take place before, during, or after the shaping and quenching steps. Also disclosed are methods and specific apparatus for carrying out the invention.