Stamped Steel Detectable Warning Tile and Method of Manufacture

A progressive die configured to form a detectable warning tile from a sheet of steel, the progressive die comprising:

• one or more first workstations;
• a plurality of preforming punch and die pairs of the one or more first workstations, the preforming punch and die pairs configured to form preform structures across a width and length of the sheet of steel;
• one or more second workstations;
• and
• a plurality of coining punch and die pairs of the one or more second workstations, the coining punch and die pairs configured to coin the preform structures to form an array of tactile portions in the sheet of steel.

A detectable warning tile comprising:

• a steel body;
• a generally planar base portion of the steel body;
• a plurality of truncated domes of the steel body projecting upwardly from the generally planar base, the plurality of truncated domes each having a sidewall and a top wall;
• a plurality of field areas projecting upwardly form the generally planar base.

A stretching assembly for a detectable warning tile having opposing end edge portions and a plurality of tactile portions formed therein, the stretching assembly comprising:

• a stationary clamp including first and second portions movable with respect to one another to clamp one of the end edge portions of the detectable warning tile therebetween;
• a mobile clamp including first and second portions movable with respect to one another to clamp the other of the end edge portions of the detectable warning tile therebetween;
• a drive mechanism operably coupled to the mobile clamp to drive horizontal movement of the mobile clamp away from the stationary clamp to thereby stretch the detectable warning tile;
• wherein one of the first and second portions of stationary clamp and mobile clamp include cavities sized to receive ones of the plurality of tactile portions formed in the end edge portions of the detectable warning tile therein.