Patent ID: 8230713
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: B21D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An elevated temperature forming die apparatus for fabrication of deep draw panels from sheet material workpieces having limited formability at lower temperatures, the die apparatus comprising: a matched stamping die set having a die set stroke and configured to receive a sheet material workpiece and comprising: at least one heater carried by one of the upper and lower die parts; a temperature controller connected to the at least one heater and configured to maintain at least one of the lower surface of the upper die part and the upper surface of the lower die part within a predetermined temperature range by controlling power application to the at least one heater; and the die set including a third die part having an upper surface configured to engage a lower surface of the second region of a sheet material workpiece whose first portion is positioned between the upper and lower die parts, the third die part being supported for reciprocal motion relative to the upper die part such that closure of the upper die part along the first stroke portion against the third die part will clamp the first portion of the workpiece between the upper and third die parts, and the third die part being supported for reciprocal motion relative to the lower die part such that, once the first portion of a workpiece has been clamped between the upper and third die parts a draw region of the workpiece extending adjacent an interface between the first and second portions of the workpiece can be drawn in plane by displacing the lower die part relative to the clamped-together upper and third die parts along a second portion of the die set stroke.