# US 2010/0167080 A1 · Integrated Die Trim And Method

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- Number: US 2010/0167080 A1
- Document ID: US20100167080A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/601,616
- Filed: 2008-05-23
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2007-05-25
- Assignees: Magna International Inc.
- Inventors: Jerome Carson Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167080A1

## CPC

- B32B 15/01: all layers being exclusively metallic {(making layered metal workpieces by pressure cladding B23K20/22; making coatings with a metallic material characterised by its composition C23C30/00)}
- B21D 22/02: Stamping using rigid devices or tools
- B21D 24/16: Additional equipment in association with the tools, e.g. for shearing, for trimming
- B32B 2250/02: 2 layers
- Y10T 428/12347: Plural layers discontinuously bonded [e.g., spot-weld, mechanical fastener, etc.]
- Y10T 428/12493: Composite; i.e., plural, adjacent, spatially distinct metal components [e.g., layers, joint, etc.]
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A sheet metal component includes a three dimensionally shaped first surface, a three dimensionally shaped second surface opposite and extending substantially parallel to the first surface and an edge interconnecting and extending about the perimeter of the first and second shaped surfaced. The edge includes a sheared portion formed during a trimming operation and an indented portion formed during a forming operation prior to the trimming operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sheet metal component, comprising:
a three dimensionally shaped first surface;
a three dimensionally shaped second surface opposite to the first surface; and
an edge interconnecting and extending about the perimeter of the first and second shaped surfaces, the edge including a sheared portion formed during a trimming operation and an indented portion formed during a forming operation prior to the trimming operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The component of claim 1 wherein the sheared portion is positioned immediately adjacent to the indented portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The component of claim 2 wherein the indented portion includes a cross-section having a substantially planar wall extending at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees from the first surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The component of claim 3 wherein the indented portion includes an indentation bottom surface extending substantially parallel to the first surface and intersecting the planar wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The component of claim 4 wherein the indentation bottom surface intersects the sheared portion.

### Claim 6

A method of stamping a sheet metal component, comprising:
forming a steel sheet in a stamping press to include an indentation extending from a first surface of the sheet toward a second opposite surface of the sheet and extending about a periphery of the first surface; and
separating a first portion of the sheet from a second portion of the sheet in a trimming press, wherein the separating occurs by shearing through the remaining sheet material located at the indentation previously formed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the forming includes deforming the sheet to include a three-dimensional shape.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the forming includes defining the indentation to have a cross section including angled, substantially planar surfaces.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein a first angled surface of the angled surfaces extends at forty-five degrees to a line perpendicular to the first surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein a second angled surface of the angled surfaces extends at an angle from the line perpendicular to the first surface ranging from forty-five to sixty degrees.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further including aligning the indentation with an intersection between moveable dies of the trimming press.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 further including heating the sheet prior to the forming operation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 further including rapidly cooling the sheet prior to the trimming operation to harden at least a portion of the sheet.

### Claim 14

A method of stamping a sheet metal component, comprising:
heating a steel sheet;
forming the steel sheet in a stamping press to include a groove extending from a first surface of the sheet toward a second opposite surface of the sheet;
quenching the sheet after forming; and
separating a first portion from a second portion of the sheet in a trimming press, wherein the separating occurs along the groove previously formed.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 wherein the forming includes deforming the sheet to include a three-dimensional shape.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the forming includes defining the groove to have a cross section including angled, substantially planar surfaces.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the angled surfaces intersect at a point.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 wherein the point defines a maximum groove depth.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein a minimum sheet thickness is defined between the point and the second sheet surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein the minimum sheet thickness ranges from one-third to two-thirds of the nominal sheet thickness.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the angled surfaces each intersect another surface extending substantially parallel to the second surface.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein a minimum sheet thickness is defined between the another surface and the second surface, the sheet separating at the minimum thickness.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the angled surfaces are positioned to define an included angle of at least ninety degrees.

### Claim 24 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein a first angled surface of the angled surfaces extends at forty-five degrees to a line perpendicular to the first surface.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24 wherein a second angled surface of the angled surfaces extends at an angle from the line perpendicular to the first surface ranging from forty-five to sixty degrees.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the first and second angled surfaces intersect one of a point, a curved surface and a substantially planar surface.

### Claim 27 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further including aligning the groove with an intersection between relatively moveable dies of the trimming press.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27 further including forming a radius on the die of the trimming press operable to contact the second surface of the sheet.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28 wherein the radius is a dimension substantially ten percent of the sheet thickness.

### Claim 30 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 wherein the groove extends peripherally about the first surface of the sheet.