METHOD OF FORMING A TUBULAR BLANK INTO A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT AND DIE THEREFOR

摘要

A method of forming an elongated tubular blank into a tubular structural component having a predetermined outer configuration, the method comprising: providing a shape imparting shell (66) from a low permeability, rigid materi al which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, plugging t he open ends of the tubular blank (A), placing the plugged blank into the shell , and forming the tubular blank into the tubular component by inductively heating axial portions (10, 12) of the blank by axially spaced conductors adjacent the shell while or before forcing gas at a high pressure into the plugged blank until the blank conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell to form the structural component.