Role of Thermal Processing in Tailored Forming Technology for Manufacturing Multi-Material Components

The demand for lightweight, high performance components continues to grow in the transportation industry. However, the inevitable trade-off between strength, weight and cost is a limiting factor in design and implementation of many technologies. Load adapted tailored components with locally varying properties offer a potential solution to this problem. In sheet forming industry, use of tailored blanks has increased notably in the last two decades, whereas utilization of such concept is relatively new to bulk metal forming industry. The researchers have been exploring new possibilities for suitable process chains to manufacture massive hybrid components. The process chain involves manufacturing processes of joining, forming, heat treatment and machining. The interface between the two materials is referred to as joining zone whose characteristics are decisive in the performance of the manufactured component. In this study, processing of a bi-material hybrid shaft by tailored forming is covered. First of all, the process chain is given as an overview. In the following, strategies for the treatment of the joining zone by forming and approaches for induction heating of the semi-finished work pieces will be discussed.