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US 6,560,499 B1Granted
System and method for design and fabrication of stamping dies for making precise die blanks
AssigneeDemmer Corporation
InventorWilliam A. Demmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for a manufacturing operation for fabricating production stamping dies for making precise die blanks wherein the operation is controlled by computer. The method and system produces proposed die blanks from a customer's proposed die blank configuration which are evaluated by the customer before trial and/or production stamping dies are made. In particular, the method provides a computer processing unit, which is accessible to the customer, wherein the computer provides die blank and stamping die CAD/CAM designing and manufacturing capabilities, data storage and retrieval, and coordinates all or particular functions involved in the manufacture of proposed die blanks and trial or production stamping dies.
Claims40
A method for manufacturing a production stamping die for producing a precise die blank for a customer, the steps comprising:
- (a) providing a trial configuration of a proposed die blank from the customer for producing the production stamping die in a digitized form in a program in a central processing unit (CPU);
- (b) producing multiple of the proposed die blank from the trial configuration using the program in the CPU;
- (c) providing the multiple of the proposed die blank produced in step (b) to the customer for testing in a shaping die which deforms the proposed die blanks;
- (d) producing (1) a trial stamping die for producing a trial die blank or (2) correcting the proposed die blank configuration based upon the results of the testing wherein the corrected configuration of the proposed die blank is produced and tested as in step (c) and then for producing the trial stamping die;
- (e) providing multiple of the trial die blank produced by the trial stamping die for testing in the shaping die in a trial production run by the customer;
- and
- (f) producing (1) the production stamping die for producing the precise die blank, (2) producing a limited production stamping die for producing a limited production of the stamping die blank, or (3) correcting the trial stamping die configuration based upon the results of the trial production run, wherein the corrected trial stamping die configuration is produced and tested as in step (e) to produce the production stamping die for the customer.
4 more elements
A system for manufacturing a production stamping die for making a precise die blank from a proposed die blank configuration in a manufacturing operation comprising:
- (a) providing a proposed die blank from the proposed die blank configuration in a digitized form, in a central processing unit (CPU) which directs a cutting means selected from the group consisting of laser cutting, liquid jet cutting, electrode discharge machining, electric wire machining, and electrochemical machining to make the proposed die blank;
- (b) providing multiple of the proposed die blank for testing the proposed die blank configuration in a shaping die which deforms the proposed die blank;
- (c) modifying or correcting the configuration of the proposed die blank in the CPU based upon the testing of the proposed die blank;
- (d) producing a trial stamping die from the modified or corrected proposed die blank configuration;
- (e) providing the trial stamping die for testing in a limited production run by the customer;
- (f) modifying or correcting the proposed die blank from the trial stamping die in the CPU based upon the testing in the limited production run;
- and
- (g) producing a production stamping die from the modified or corrected trial stamping die configuration wherein the production stamping die is used to produce the precise die blank by the customer.
5 more elements
A system in a manufacturing operation for manufacture of production stamping dies used for making a precise die blank which comprises:
- (a) a central processing unit (CPU) with input and output means which CPU has a program for storing and retrieving information through the input and output means;
- (b) multiple separate terminals connected to the CPU through the input and output means for retrieving and storing the information from the CPU and for storing information in the CPU so that the information is disseminated within the manufacturing operation;
- (c) the program enabling
- (i) storing and retrieving information concerning a proposed configuration of a proposed die blank for which production stamping dies are to be produced;
- (ii) storing and retrieving information concerning the configuration and forming of the proposed die blank which is produced in the manufacturing operation from the proposed configuration;
- (iii) storing and retrieving information concerning limited production trial stamping dies enabling production of the proposed die blank or enabling production of corrected stamping dies and a corrected die blank which trial stamping dies have been tested by forming the proposed die blank or the corrected die blank to a final configuration;
- and
- (iv) storing and retrieving information concerning the manufacture of the production stamping dies for the precise die blank based upon the trial stamping dies or corrected stamping dies, wherein the production stamping dies produce the precise die blank.
5 more elements
A method for the manufacture of production stamping dies used for making a precise die blank:
- (a) providing a system in a manufacturing operation for the manufacture of production stamping dies used for making the precise die blank which comprises:
- a central processing unit (CPU) with input and output means which CPU has a program for storing and retrieving information through the input and output means;
- multiple separate terminals connected to the CPU through the input and output means for retrieving and storing information from the CPU and for storing information in the CPU so that the information is disseminated within the manufacturing operation;
- the program enabling
- (i) storing and retrieving information concerning a trial configuration of a proposed die blank for which production stamping dies are to be produced;
- (ii) storing and retrieving information concerning the configuration of the proposed die blank which is produced in the manufacturing operation from the trial configuration;
- (iii) storing and retrieving information concerning limited production trial stamping dies enabling production of the proposed die blank or enabling production of corrected stamping dies and a corrected die blank which trial stamping dies or corrected stamping dies have been tested by forming the proposed die blank or the corrected die blank to a final configuration;
- and
- (iv) storing and retrieving information concerning the manufacture of the production stamping dies for the precise die blank based upon the trial stamping dies or corrected stamping dies, wherein the production stamping dies produce the precise die blank;
- (b) storing in the CPU the proposed die blank information in the program for (a) (i);
- (c) manufacturing and testing by forming by shaping the proposed die blanks for (a) (ii);
- (d) storing the information of (c) in the program for (a) (ii);
- (e) manufacturing and testing by drawing the trial die blank or corrected die blank with the trial stamping dies or corrected stamping dies and modifying the trial or corrected stamping dies as a result of the testing;
- (f) storing the information concerning the trial or corrected stamping dies and proposed or corrected die blanks in the program for (a) (iii);
- (g) manufacturing the production stamping dies based upon information concerning the trial stamping dies or corrected stamping dies in (a) (iv);
- and
- (h) storing information in the program for (a) (iv).
14 more elements
A method for manufacturing a production stamping die for making a precise die blank from a proposed die blank configuration in a manufacturing operation comprising:
- (a) providing a central processing unit (CPU) with input and output means for receiving, storing, and retrieving information comprising the proposed die blank configuration which is provided by a customer wherein the CPU disseminates the information within the manufacturing operation;
- (b) retrieving the information from the CPU concerning the manufacture of the proposed die blank and using the information to direct a cutting means selected from the group consisting of laser cutting, liquid jet cutting, electrode discharge machining, electric wire machining, electrochemical machining to make the proposed die blank;
- (c) providing the proposed die blank to the customer who evaluates the proposed die blank configuration;
- (d) modifying or correcting the configuration of the proposed die blank information stored in the CPU based upon the customer's evaluation of the proposed die blank wherein the modifications or corrections are input into the CPU;
- (e) using the information comprising the modified or corrected die blank configuration in the CPU to direct the manufacture of a trial stamping die and providing the trial stamping die to the customer for evaluation in a production run;
- (f) modifying or correcting the configuration of the trial stamping die information stored in the CPU based upon the customer's evaluation of the trial stamping die in a production run wherein the modifications or corrections are input into the CPU;
- and
- (g) using the information comprising the modified or corrected die blank configuration in the CPU to direct the manufacture of a production stamping die and providing the production stamping die to the customer.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.