3 Fundamentals of press design

Die engineering
diameter and stroke are adjusted to the specific requirements of the
component. The cylinder holder brackets absorb the axial forces and
align the horizontal cylinders concentrically with the end guides. These
can be moved and positioned on the bed or slide plate.
The modular basic structure of the dies permits flexible implementation
of the required component geometries. The objective is to minimize
production costs, die changing times and the time required to
exchange worn parts. In addition, during the development phase it is
possible to try out different tube materials and wall thicknesses without
changing the dies. Thus, it is possible to test various preform geometries
with a minimum of trouble and expense.
Simple changeover from prototype dies to production dies is possible
if only cavity or sliding inserts have to be exchanged (Fig. 5.4.2). When
designing a prototype die, its service life is only of minor importance.
Except for the sliding inserts, it is not necessary to have time-consuming
coatings or other surface treatments of the die inserts. Prototyping
– and thus step-by-step progress towards a die suitable for series production
– takes place in several stages:
prototype die production die
exchange of wearing parts
modification of individual contour sections
workpiece basic die horizontal cylinder die cavity insert
Fig. 5.4.2 Die systems for prototyping and production
counterpressure
punch slidinginsert
Metal Forming Handbook / Schuler (c) Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998
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