exerted by tool segment 16 works portion b to provide local thickness reduction as metal moves outward from the worked surface area and toward the walls of the die cavity the stroke length of tool segment 16 is predetermined so that when it reaches a fully extended position the worked surface area along portion b is reduced to a desired thickness for the product bottom mandrel 15 is sequentially operated so that the second tool segment 17 is activated to extend along the first tool segment 16 after tool segment 16 is set into motion and the second tool segment 17 may be activated while tool segment 16 is working material along the product bottom or after tool segment 16 has reached its fully extended position in any event as clearly shown in fig3 c tool segment 17 extends along tool segment 16 to engage portion b proximate and outward from the surface area worked by tool segment 16 because portions s and r of blank 14 remain fixed against die surface 19 as illustrated at position d the force exerted by tool segment 17 against blank 14 reduces the product bottom thickness by working the remaining excess material outward from the tool segment and toward the wall of die cavity 12 where the excess material becomes part of the product sidewall as shown in fig3.