Shell press and method for forming a shell

An apparatus for forming a shell having a preselected depth, the apparatus comprising:

• a die center;
• an upper pressure sleeve located proximate to the die center;
• a blank and draw die located proximate to the upper pressure sleeve;
• a panel punch located in opposed relation to the die center;
• a die core ring having an upper end with the upper end of the die core ring located proximate to the panel punch and in opposed relation to a lower end of the upper pressure sleeve;
• a lower pressure sleeve having an upper end with the upper end of the lower pressure sleeve located proximate to the die core ring and in opposed relation to a lower end of the blank and draw die;
• a blank cutedge located proximate to the lower pressure sleeve;
• a panel punch piston coupled to the panel punch, the panel punch piston having an upper end;
• and
• a spacer member disposed concentrically around an outside surface of the panel punch piston at or proximate to the upper end of the panel punch piston,
• wherein an upper end of the spacer member is in contact with a lower end of the panel punch and the spacer member is located proximate to a peripheral surface of the lower end of the panel punch,
• wherein the apparatus is movable between a first position in which a lower end of the spacer member is structured to be spaced apart from an opposing portion of the apparatus, and a second position in which the lower end of the spacer member is structured to engage the opposing portion of the apparatus, thereby establishing the preselected depth of the shell, and
• wherein the second position in which the preselected depth of the shell is established corresponds to a bottom of a stroke of the apparatus.

A method for forming a shell having a preselected depth, the method comprising:

• moving material between an upper die shoe and a lower die shoe;
• blanking the material to form a blank;
• forming the blank to provide a peripheral edge portion coupled to a raised center panel portion with the raised central panel portion located above the peripheral edge portion;
• forming the blank into a shell with a center panel coupled to a crown with the crown located above the center panel location;
• controlling movement of a panel punch by spacing the movement of the panel punch from a shoulder of a die core ring;
• preventing engagement of a lower end of the panel punch with the shoulder of the die core ring using a spacer member disposed between the lower end of the panel punch and the shoulder of the die core ring, the spacer member having an upper end contacting the lower end of the panel punch, and an opposing lower end facing the shoulder of the die core ring,
• moving the panel punch between a first position in which the lower end of the spacer member is spaced apart from the shoulder of the die core ring, and a second position in which the lower end of the spacer member engages the shoulder of the die core ring, the second position corresponding to a bottom of a stroke of the panel punch, and
• establishing the preselected depth of the shell at the bottom of the stroke of the panel punch.