DONALD JOSEPH DIEMER
Pilots at 78 St, Cleveland, OH

4555925, Dec 3, 1985

Jun 11, 1984

6/619121

Ralph D. Delio - New Wilmington PA
Donald J. Diemer - Cleveland OH

B21D 2200

72359

A preheated billet (A) is disposed in a billet receiving region (20) of a lower die (B). The lower preforming die defines a throat region (30) which is smaller in transverse cross section than the billet receiving region and disposed immediately therebelow. The lower die further defines an enlarged relief region (40) which is larger in all transverse dimensions than the throat region and disposed immediately therebelow. An upper die (C) includes a billet engaging surface (50) which has substantially the same transverse cross section as the billet receiving region. The upper die is forced downward by a hydraulic press or the like into engagement with the billet. As the upper preforming die continues downward, the billet engaging surface is telescopically received within the billet receiving region pushing and deforming the billet ahead of it. With continued downward movement, the billet is forced into conformity with the billet receiving region and is extruded through the throat region to hang within the relief region. In this manner, a billet is formed in part in substantially conformity with the billet receiving region and in part untapered or draft-free with the cross section of the throat region.