Patent ID: 6751572
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
A part measurement system comprising:a press machine including a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material; a part measurement sensor located in the lower die, wherein the sensor measures a critical dimension of the part while the part is in the lower die; a part forming rail coupled to the lower die, wherein the forming rail and the upper die form the critical dimension of the part; and a press controller coupled to the press machine and the sensor, wherein the controller processes a measurement signal from the part measurement sensor of the critical dimension of the part, compares the measurement signal to a predetermined threshold value, and generates a command signal to the press machine to adjust the forming rail based on the measurement signal; wherein the forming rail is coupled to a servo controllable by the press controller to change the height of the forming rail based on the measurement from the sensor of the critical dimension of the part and further wherein the upper die includes a knocker that contacts the forming rail to form the critical dimension of the part; wherein the sensor generates a first measurement signal prior to the upper die punching the strip of material and a second measurement signal after the upper die punches the strip of material; wherein the press controller generates an average measurement signal based on the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal.