A method of drawing metal cups from metal sheets, which includes the steps of separating non-circular blanks of material from a metal sheet and of drawing cups from such blanks. The blanks may be of substantially hexagonal or square shape.
A container body is produced from a blank, by first forming the blank from sheet stock in hexagonal shape, thereby eliminating scrap from the blanking process. A die ring is configured to laterally redistribute material from the point areas of the hexagon into intermediate areas during the draw-and-iron can forming process, usefully incorporating this material instead of trimming it.
A method and apparatus for forming a shape such as a cavity in a workpiece. An aperture is provided in the area in which the cavity is to be formed. Thereafter, the cavity is depressed into the metal causing the metal to flow into the area from which metal was removed by the aperture formation. If desired, after formation of the original aperture, the cavity may be partially depressed, and the aperture requalified to a circular shape. Thereafter, the cavity may be depressed into the workpiece to its final depth.
