Adjustable form die
AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation
InventorsEdwin G. Haas, Martin Kesselman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention details a computer controlled self adjusting sheet metal forming die which can provide rapid contour changes. It eliminates the need to manufacture, store, and change individual forming dies for forming different contours, and comprises a computer control device which sends appropriately timed signals to translate each contour element so that a three dimension surface is formed by a discrete matrix of individual pins. This self adjusting sheet metal forming die is used on a sheet metal press wherein sheet metal can be formed by pressing or stretch forming the metal against the contoured surface.
Claims27
A self-adjusting die for forming a three-dimensional contoured die surface comprising:
- a) a plurality of individual pin means defining a matrix of pin rows and pin columns, each said pin means independently movable in an extended and retracted position along a single axis;
- (b) control means for generating desired positional information for each of said plurality of individual pins of said matrix;
- (c) drive means having a drive motor and a first drive shaft for each row/column of said matrix of pins, each said first drive shaft having a plurality of worm gears rotating therewith and spaced apart at each pin location;
- and
- (d) torque engaging means corresponding to and operatively connected with each said pin means, each said torque engaging means selectively engaging said pin means to said first drive shaft to selectively supply torque to said corresponding pin means, said drive means and said torque engaging means being responsive to said positional information generated by said control means for providing simultaneous and independent axial movement of each said pin means of said matrix along each respective said single axis.
The self-adjusting die as claimed in claim 16 further including a comparator means associated with each individual pin means, wherein said current counter output signal of a respective pin means is input to a first input of said comparator, and said stored desired positional information for that pin means is input to a second input of said comparator, said comparator comparing a difference between said first and second inputs thereof and generating said first control signal indicating that said pin means has not reached a final position and generating said second control signal indicating that said pin means has reached said final position.
A method for forming a tool die having a plurality of pins arranged in a matrix comprising a plurality of rows/columns, said die including drive means having a drive motor for each row/column of said matrix of pins for rotating a first drive shaft, and torque engaging means corresponding to and operatively connected with each said pin for selectively engaging said drive means to selectively supply torque to said corresponding pin, said drive means and torque engaging means for independently driving each individual pin of said plurality to a desired position along a single axis, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating pin extension information for each pin of said matrix necessary to form a desired three-dimensional contoured surface:
- (b) transferring each said pin extension information to a data storage means corresponding with each said pin means;
- (c) actuating said drive means to drive each pin means of said matrix to its desired extended position, while
- (d) simultaneously comparing the actual position of each said pin means with the desired pin position information stored in its respective data storage means;
- and
- (e) terminating the motion of a said pin means when the actual position of that pin means is equal to the desired position stored in said data storage means.
A self-adjusting die for forming a three-dimensional contoured die surface comprising:
- a) a plurality of individual pins defining a matrix of pin rows and pin columns, each said pin being independently movable in an extended and retracted position along a single axis;
- (b) control means for generating desired positional information for each of said plurality of individual pins;
- (c) drive means having a drive motor for driving at least one first drive shaft, each of said first drive shafts driving at least one of said row/column of said pins;
- and
- (d) torque engaging means corresponding to and operatively connected with each said pin, each said torque engaging means selectively engaging one of said first drive shafts to selectively supply torque to said corresponding pin, said drive means and said torque engaging means being responsive to said positional information generated by said control means for providing simultaneous and independent axial movement of each said pin of said matrix along each respective said single axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.