Patent ID: 7980112
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
1. A re-usable tooling system adapted to be reconfigured to fabricate parts from sheet metal, wherein the parts having different sizes and shapes, the tooling system comprising: first and second die shoes operably interconnected by linear guides, the shoes having inner sides facing one another, at least the first die shoe having a plurality of spring-receiving pockets in the inner side arranged to define an array of spring-receiving pockets; a plurality of resilient members disposed in selected ones of the spring-receiving pockets, wherein the number of resilient members is substantially less than the number of spring-receiving pockets; a plate member secured to the first die shoe having a plurality of spring-receiving pockets, the plate member closing off a plurality of the pockets that do not have resilient members disposed in them, the plate member simultaneously providing clearance at the pockets having resilient members disposed in them; a plurality of die steels mounted to the plate member, including at least one metal-forming component operably connected to a selected one of the resilient members such that the metal-forming component shifts as the first and second die shoes move relative to one another.