Undercut split die

A press for compacting parts out of powder material said press having a frame, a pair of opposed rams and a toolset operatively associated with said rams, said press comprising:

• (a) a pair of die and punch sets movable relative to one another between an open position, a closed position and an eject position;
• (b) a drive for controlling relative movement between said punch and die sets;
• (c) each of said punch and die sets including at least one punch associated with a die for relative movement therebetween, said punch and die cooperating to define a respective chamber;
• (d) a drive member associated with each of said sets for controlling relative movement between respective ones of said die and said punch;
• (e) said punch and die of one of said sets providing a chamber for filling with said powder material when said die sets are in said open position;
• (f) said drive member associated with said one set being operable in said closed position in which said chambers cooperate to define a closed mold cavity to move said punch of said one set towards said die of the other of said sets so as to transfer said powder material toward said die of said other set, said drive members being operable to cause relative movement of said punches to compact said powder material between said punches with said dies in said closed position so as to produce said compacted part;
• and
• (g) said die sets being movable to said eject position for ejection of said compacted part.

A device to compact parts out of powder material comprising a tool set in a press having an upper die, a lower die, at least one upper punch associated with said upper die, and at least two lower punches associated with said lower die;

• said device having at least a first drive system for moving said lower punches in slidable engagement within and relative to, said lower die;
• said first drive system movable to a first position to locate one of said lower punches within said lower die to define a lower cavity for receiving powder material;
• said upper die being mounted with a second drive system to an upper ram of said press, and movable by said second drive system;
• said device having a third drive system for moving said upper punch in sliding engagement within, and relative to, said upper die;
• said upper punch movable to a position within said upper die to define an upper cavity;
• said upper ram being movable to position said upper die against said lower die to close said lower cavity;
• said first drive system being movable to move one of said lower punches upwardly toward said upper die to transfer a portion of said powder material from said lower cavity to said upper cavity;
• said second drive system being movable to move said upper die upwardly to permit ejection of a compacted part.

A method for making compacted powder parts with a toolset including a pair of die and punch sets each having a die and an associated punch engageable therewithin to define respective chambers, said method comprising the sequential steps of:

• (a) establishing the tool set in a filled position in which said chambers are in closed communication to define a mold cavity with a charge of powder captured therein;
• (b) moving one of said punches relative to its die to transfer at least a portion of the charge of powder from one of said chambers to the other of said chambers;
• (c) compacting the charge of powder to form a part;
• and
• (d) ejecting said part.