US 5,319,951 AGranted

Method for measuring values of parameters inherent in the drawing of pieces of sheet metal

AssigneeFiat Auto S.p.A.

InventorMario Da Re

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Abstract

The model die for measuring values of parameters inherent in the drawing of pieces of sheet metal to produce shaped elements, each including at least one curved surface region which has a critical radius of curvature, has at least one curved surface region which is a copy of the region with critical curvature of the shaped element to be produced. The die has at least one sensor selected from the group comprising pressure, temperature, linear-displacement, vibration, breakage and thickness sensors for measuring the value of a parameter of the drawing of a model shaped element which can be correlated functionally to a corresponding parameter inherent in the drawing of the shaped element on an industrial scale. If the value measured differs from the value which can be calculated or predicted on the basis of a mathematical model of the drawing method, it can be used to improve the mathematical model which can be used for analysing and/or controlling the drawing method.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method for drawing pieces of sheet metal to produce production shaped elements, each of the production shaped elements including at least one curved surface region with a critical radius of curvature, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a model die having a surface which is a copy of the at least one curved surface region with a critical radius of curvature of the production shaped element,
providing the surface of the model die with at least one sensor for measuring the value of a parameter of the drawing method,
drawing at least one piece of the sheet metal with the model die and measuring the value of the corresponding parameter using the at least one sensor,
calculating or predicting a value of the corresponding parameter on the basis of a mathematical model,
comparing the value measured using the at least one sensor to the value calculated or predicted using the mathematical model, and, if a difference is found, using the value measured to improve the mathematical model of the drawing method, and
using the improved mathematical model to analyze and/or control the drawing method for the production of the production shaped elements on an industrial scale.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/987,611Filed 9 Dec 1992
Priority: IT TO91 A 00102623 Dec 1991
Granted: 14 Jun 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B21D 28/005
Drive of the tools: adjustment of the punch stroke for compensating wear
B21D 5/004
Bending sheet metal along straight lines, e.g. to form simple curves: with program control
B21D 37/20
Tools as parts of machines covered by this subclass: making tools by operations not covered by a single other subclass
G05B 19/4097
Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to…