Computer-aided progressive die design system and method

A computerized method for designing a progressive die used in the manufacturing of a part formed from sheet metal, comprising:

• receiving, at a computer, information regarding one or more features of the part;
• determining, by the computer, one or more processes needed to form the features in the part;
• determining, by the computer, one or more operations associated with each process;
• receiving, at the computer, one or more parameters associated with each operation;
• determining, by the computer, a blank layout for the part based on the features of the part and the number of parts desired;
• determining, by the computer, one or more details of a strip for the blank layout;
• receiving, at the computer, information regarding one or more scrap profiles for the strip;
• receiving, at the computer, a sequence of the operations of the processes;
• simulating, by the computer, the operations of the processes on the strip;
• determining, by the computer, information regarding a die base based on the details of the strip, the die base having a plurality of die plates;
• receiving, at the computer, one or more parameters associated with one or more configurable items for the die plates;
• determining, by the computer, information regarding one or more inserts for the die plates based on the operations of the processes needed to form the features in the part;
• receiving, at the computer, one or more parameters associated with the inserts;
• determining, by the computer, one or more relief cavities for the die plates;
• generating, by the computer, one or more pockets for the die plates;
• and
• generating, by the computer, one or more outputs associated with the progressive die.

A system for designing a progressive die used in the manufacturing of a part formed from sheet metal, comprising:

• a computer-readable medium;
• a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium operable to:
• receive information regarding one or more features of the part;
• determine a blank layout for the part based on the features of the part and the number of parts desired;
• determine one or more details of a strip for the blank layout;
• determine information regarding a die base based on the details of the strip, the die base having a plurality of die plates;
• determine information regarding one or more inserts for the die plates based on one or more operations of one or more processes needed to form the features in the part;
• and
• generate one or more outputs associated with the progressive die.

A system for designing a progressive die used in the manufacturing of a part formed from sheet metal, comprising:

• a computer-readable medium;
• a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium operable to:
• receive information regarding one or more features of the part;
• determine one or more processes needed to form the features in the part;
• determine one or more operations associated with each process;
• receive one or more parameters associated with each operation;
• determine a blank layout for the part based on the features of the part and the number of parts desired;
• determine one or more details of a strip for the blank layout;
• receive information regarding one or more scrap profiles for the strip;
• receive a sequence of the operations of the processes;
• simulate the operations of the processes on the strip;
• determine information regarding a die base based on the details of the strip, the die base having a plurality of die plates;
• receive one or more parameters associated with one or more configurable items for the die plates;
• determine information regarding one or more inserts for the die plates based on the operations of the processes needed to form the features in the part;
• receive one or more parameters associated with the inserts;
• determine one or more relief cavities for the die plates;
• generate one or more pockets for the die plates;
• and
• generate one or more outputs associated with the progressive die.