Sheet metal stamping die design for warm forming
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorAmit K. Ghosh
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Abstract
In metal stamping dies, by taking advantage of improved material flow by selectively warming the die, flat sections of the die can contribute to the flow of material throughout the workpiece. Local surface heating can be accomplished by placing a heating block in the die. Distribution of heating at the flat lower train central regions outside of the bend region allows a softer flow at a lower stress to enable material flow into the thinner, higher strain areas at the bend/s. The heating block is inserted into the die and is powered by a power supply.
Claims12
An apparatus for selectively warming a die having a flat region and a bend region to increase the strain level of a material to reduce excessive thinning of the material and to enable material flow of the material in the apparatus into the bend region from the flat region, the apparatus comprising:
- means for warming at least one flat region of the die;
- means for controlling the temperature of the means for warming the at least one flat region of the die;
- and
- means for measuring a temperature of a punch for use with the die,
- wherein the means for controlling the temperature of the means for warming the at least one flat region being controllable to achieve a desired temperature at the at least one flat region in a specific relation to the measured temperature of the punch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.