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US 8,033,151 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for reducing force needed to form a shape from a sheet metal
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames B. Castle, Christopher S. Huskamp, Kevin G. Waymack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus comprising a platform, a stylus, and an ultrasonic energy generation system. The platform may be capable of holding a sheet of material. The stylus may be capable of impinging the sheet of material to incrementally form a shape for a part. The ultrasonic energy generation system may be capable of sending ultrasonic energy into at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material where the stylus impinges the sheet of material.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a platform capable of holding a sheet of material;
- a stylus capable of impinging the sheet of material to incrementally form a shape for a part;
- an ultrasonic energy generation system capable of sending ultrasonic energy into at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material where the stylus impinges the sheet of material;
- a control system controlling generation of the ultrasonic energy by the ultrasonic energy generation system;
- and
- a number of sensors capable of generating information, wherein the control system is capable of controlling the ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic energy generation system using the information generated by the number of sensors.
3 more elements
An incremental sheet metal forming machine comprising:
- a platform capable of holding a sheet of material;
- a stylus capable of impinging the sheet of material to incrementally form a shape for a part;
- a motion control system capable of controlling movement of the stylus;
- an ultrasonic energy generation system comprising a number of ultrasonic energy generation devices, wherein the ultrasonic energy generation system is capable of causing vibrations in at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material in an area around the stylus prior to the stylus impinging the location to cause at least one of a temporary reduction in yield strength, a temporary increase in elongation, a temporary increase in ductility, and a temporary reduction in a modulus for the sheet of material;
- wherein the ultrasonic energy generation system is coupled to the stylus, and wherein the number of ultrasonic energy generation devices is selected from at least one of a transducer and an ultrasonic actuator;
- a number of sensors capable of generating information, wherein the number of sensors is selected from at least one of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a microphone, and a load sensor, wherein a thermal control system is capable of controlling ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic energy generation system using the information generated by the number of sensors;
- and
- a control system capable of controlling the ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic energy generation system using the information from the number of sensors.
5 more elements
A method for processing a sheet of material, the method comprising:
- securing the sheet of material relative to a tool in an incremental sheet metal forming machine;
- incrementally shaping the sheet of material into a shape of a part using a stylus;
- and
- sending ultrasonic energy into at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location at which the stylus is to impinge prior to the stylus impinging the sheet of material at the location to cause vibrations in the portion of the sheet of material that causes at least one of a temporary reduction in yield strength, a temporary increase in elongation, a temporary increase in ductility, and a temporary reduction in a modulus for the sheet of material.
1 more element
A method for processing a sheet of metal material into a shape for an aircraft part, the method comprising:
- securing the sheet of metal material relative to a tool in an incremental sheet metal forming machine;
- incrementally shaping the sheet of metal material into the shape of the aircraft part using a stylus;
- and
- sending ultrasonic energy into at least a portion of the sheet of metal material in a location at which the stylus is to impinge the sheet of metal material to cause vibrations in the portion of the sheet of metal material that causes at least one of a temporary reduction in yield strength, a temporary increase in elongation, a temporary increase in ductility, and a temporary reduction in a modulus for the sheet of metal material.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.