Abstract:
A die module set ( 1 ) for a pressing tool for producing screws, threaded bolts and ball pins includes two different cores ( 5, 14 ) and two different reinforcement rings ( 8, 11 ) being designed to be coordinated in a way that a first die ( 2 ) including a first core ( 5 ) and the reinforcement rings ( 8, 11 ) or alternatively a second die ( 2 ) including the other core ( 14 ) and only one of the reinforcement rings ( 11 ) can be composed thereof.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to co-pending German Patent Application No. DE 10 2014 111 724.7 entitled “Matrizenmodulsatz für Presswerkzeuge zum Herstellen von Schrauben”, filed Aug. 18, 2014. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a pressing tool for producing components by deforming and especially by cold forming. The pressing tool includes a die and a punch. The components may be especially screws, threaded bolts, ball pins and other components being substantially rotationally symmetrical and especially being made of metal. 
         [0003]    At first, a section is cut off a starting material—the so called wire—and it is fed to the pressing tool of the press. This section is pressed into the die by actuation of the punch, and it is deformed thereby, for example to produce a head or a shank. The workpiece resulting therefrom is also called the blank, and it is further processed afterwards. In this way, specific outer shapes—and especially threaded portions, helical portions, knurled portions and other profiles—can be produced, for example by rolling. 
         [0004]    To be capable of better accepting the forces occurring in the die, the die is reinforced. This means that the die includes an inner core and an reinforcement ring surrounding the inner core. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In the prior art, dies for pressing tools are generally known. The respective die consists of a core and an reinforcement ring or two reinforcement rings one being located on the other. The outer diameter of the die and thus of the outermost reinforcement ring is defined by the respective support of the press into which the die is inserted. The inner diameter is defined by the workpiece to be pressed. Depending on the difference between the outer diameter of the core and the dimensions of the support of the press, the designer of the tool within narrow limits defines if one reinforcement ring or two reinforcement rings are to be used. 
         [0006]    Dies for pressing tools are known from German patent application DE 196 24 004 A1 and Japanese patent application JP 2011-218419 A. The die consist of a core and a reinforcement ring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention relates to a die module set for a pressing tool including two different cores and two different reinforcement rings being designed to be coordinated in a way that a first die including a first core and the reinforcement rings or alternatively a second die including the other core and only one of the reinforcement rings can be composed thereof. 
         [0008]    The present invention also relates to a die module set kit for a pressing tool. The die module press set kit includes a first above-described die module set and a second above-described die module set. The cores and the reinforcement rings of the two die module sets are different than the cores and the reinforcement rings of the first die module set. 
       DEFINITIONS 
       [0009]    A core is to be understood as the radial inner element of the die which surrounds and contacts the component to be deformed in the die and which defines its shape. The term “core” does not indicate that it includes material in its center as seen in cross section. In fact, there is no material at that place, but instead a clearance to be capable of accepting the workpiece to be deformed. The term “core” relates to the structure of the die and is intended to indicate that, compared to the other modules, namely the reinforcement rings, it is arranged in a radial inner region as seen in cross section. 
         [0010]    In case the core is divided in an axial direction and thus includes different segments in this direction, this is to be understood as only one core according to the definition of the present invention. The same applies to the reinforcement rings. A reinforcement ring being divided in an axial direction is thus not to be interpreted as two reinforcement rings. 
         [0011]    The term reinforcement “ring” indicates that it—the same way as the core—does not include material in a radial inner region as seen in cross section, i.e. it is hollow. The term “ring”, however, does not indicate that it only has a small extension in an axial direction. The term “ring” thus is no differentiation from the term “tube” or “tube section”. 
       Further Description 
       [0012]    According to the invention, a die module set is provided with which different dies for a pressing tool can be assembled. The individual construction of a die for adaption to the respective workpiece to be deformed and to the support of the press as it is known in the prior art is replaced by a modular system. Different dies can be flexibly and quickly assembled from this modular system. 
         [0013]    The different cores and the different reinforcement rings are part of the die module set and they are designated as modules. The module set is designed such that at least two different dies can be composed thereof. However, it can also be designed such that a greater number of different and possibly also identical dies can be composed thereof, especially three, four, five, six or more dies. For this purpose, the modular set may include a plurality of identical reinforcement rings—especially comparatively greater reinforcement rings—which can then be combined with different cores to form a plurality of different dies from the modular set. 
         [0014]    The core is surrounded by at least one reinforcement ring in a radial direction and it is thus pre-tensioned thereby. The pre-tension results from a press fit between the core and the reinforcement ring—i.e. between the outer diameter of the core and the inner diameter of the reinforcement rings. The greater the pre-tension being introduced into the core, the more this can be stressed during the deforming process. 
         [0015]    The inner diameters and the outer diameters of the modules are coordinated in a way that different dies can be composed thereof. A different die is to be understood as a die including a different core than another die. In this way, the core of the first die having a comparatively smaller inner diameter and a comparatively smaller outer diameter can be replaced by a core of a second die having a comparatively greater inner diameter. To ensure that the required minimum thickness of the core is realized, the outer diameter is also increased. Consequently, in the second die, the reinforcement ring having the same outer diameter as the core of the second die is omitted. In other words, the first core and the innermost reinforcement ring being located thereon of the first die are replaced by a second core of the second die. The second reinforcement ring of the first die is then identically used as the first reinforcement ring of the second die. This modular system can be respectively continued for a third, fourth, fifth, sixth and so forth die. 
         [0016]    The die module set may especially include a first core, a second core, a first reinforcement ring and a second reinforcement ring. The first core includes a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter. The second core includes a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter. The second outer diameter of the second core is greater than the first diameter of the first core. The first reinforcement ring has a third inner diameter and a third outer diameter. The third outer diameter of the first reinforcement ring is identical to the second outer diameter of the second core. The second reinforcement ring has a fourth inner diameter and a fourth outer diameter. The first outer diameter of the first core and the third inner diameter of the first reinforcement ring as well as the third outer diameter of the first reinforcement ring and the fourth inner diameter of the second reinforcement ring are coordinated in a way that a first die including the first core, the first reinforcement ring and the second reinforcement ring can be composed thereof. The second outer diameter of the second core and the fourth inner diameter of the second reinforcement ring are coordinated in a way that alternatively a second die including the second core and the second reinforcement ring, but not including the first reinforcement ring can be composed thereof. 
         [0017]    The second inner diameter of the second core may thus be greater than the first diameter of the first core. However, it is also possible that the first core and the second core have the same inner diameter or that the second inner diameter of the second core is smaller than the first inner diameter of the first core. The cores may thus differ with respect to their inner diameter and/or their outer diameter. 
         [0018]    The outer diameter of a core and the inner diameter of an reinforcement ring may be coordinated in a way that they can be connected to form a press fit. Alternatively or additionally, the outer diameter of a reinforcement ring and the inner diameter of another reinforcement ring may be coordinated in a way that they can be connected to one another to from a press fit. In this way, a dies is composed of the modules, the die serving to accept the substantial forces occurring in the pressing tool during a pressing operation. 
         [0019]    The thickness of the reinforcement rings may increase with their inner diameter and/or their outer diameter. The ratio between the thickness and the inner diameter of the reinforcement rings may be between approximately 5 and 25%, especially between approximately 10 and 20% and preferably approximately 15%. By such a ratio, it is ensured that the reinforcement rings provide the desired reinforcement effect, on the one hand, but the desired flexible composition of the module set is attained, on the other hand. 
         [0020]    The cores may include a plurality of segments being divided in an axial direction. As it has been described above, such segments are not separate cores. Instead, one core is divided into a plurality of segments. These segments may have different inner diameters and/or outer diameters (especially see the below described  FIG. 5 ). In such a case, not only the respective core is divided into a plurality of segments in an axial direction, but, due to the different outer diameters of these segments, there are reinforcement rings in the form of filling rings. These filling rings compensate the differences between the outer diameters between the different segments of the core such that after the filling rings as seen in a radial direction towards the outside, there may be a full reinforcement ring. 
         [0021]    The segments of the cores and/or of the reinforcement rings which may then form a core and a reinforcement ring, respectively, in a mounted die, may instead have totally or partly identical inner diameters and/or outer diameters. For example, a segment may serve to produce a shank portion, the following segment may serve to produce the following shank portion and a head portion and the following segment may serve to produce the following head portion (compare  FIG. 15 ). 
         [0022]    The die module set may include at least three different cores and three different reinforcement rings. In this way, it is already possible to compose three different dies. The die module set may, however, also include four, five, six or more different cores and four, five, six or more different reinforcement rings. 
         [0023]    The at least three cores may have different inner diameters and/or different outer diameters. The at least three reinforcement rings may have different inner diameters and different outer diameters. Due to the different inner diameters of the cores, different workpieces can be produced. The different outer diameters alternatively or additionally ensure that the required wall thickness of the cores is maintained. The inner diameter of the reinforcement rings are coordinated with the outer diameters of the cores. The outer diameters of the reinforcement rings are chosen such that they are adapted to the inner diameter of the respective reinforcement ring being located in a radial outward direction, on the one hand, and such that the required wall thickness of the reinforcement rings is ensured, on the other hand. 
         [0024]    The dies may be cold extrusion dies of a machine-driven press. The press may be a one-step press or a multiple-step press. 
         [0025]    The dies may serve to produce screws. They then serve to deform a wire portion into a blank and to further deform the blank. These deformation steps especially occur before the threaded portion of the screw is applied by rolling. 
         [0026]    The present invention also relates to a die module set kit for a pressing tool. The die module set kit includes a first above-described die module set and a second above-described die module set. The cores and the reinforcement rings of the second die module set are different than the cores and the reinforcement rings of the first die module set. The two—or more than two—die module sets thus form a common die module set kit. 
         [0027]    The cores and the reinforcement rings of the second die module set may have different outer diameters than the cores and the reinforcement rings of the first die module set. Alternatively or additionally, the cores and the reinforcement rings of the second die module set may have different inner diameters than the cores and the reinforcement rings of the first die module set. It is also possible that there is a third, fourth, fifth, sixth or additional die module set. 
         [0028]    The plurality of die module sets being combined in a module kit has the goal of being capable of composing a die for many different cores. To be able to process the modules and to interconnect them by pressing, these have to have a certain minimum thickness and a certain minimum wall thickness, respectively. Minimum differences between the diameters are defined by this minimum wall thickness. If a new core is to be integrated in the module set, the core having an increased minimum outer diameter due to an enlarged inner diameter and the minimum thickness to be realized, the minimum outer diameter being greater than the outer diameter that fits in the first die module set, this outer diameter does not have to be increased to reach the next greater diameter of the first die module set. Instead, it only has to be enlarged to reach the closer next diameter of the second die module set. At the same time, it is to be noted that the wall thickness of the cores also has an upper limit. Beyond this upper limit, the reinforcement effect is no longer active since the required pre-tensional forces can no longer be applied. 
         [0029]    The module sets being contained in the kit are especially coordinated in a way that the diameter changes are offset in an approximately centered way in case of two module sets. In case of three module sets, the offset is approximately at 1/3, in case of four module sets at approximately 1/4, in case of five module sets at approximately 1/5 and so forth. 
         [0030]    With the novel modules, all required diameters and lengths of dies can be composed. To attain the desired flexibility also with respect to the length, it is possible to stock comparatively long core tubes and reinforcement tubes from which the respective required section for forming the desired cores and reinforcement rings is separated. Especially, these tubes may be stocked in an already hardened and tempered form. 
         [0031]    The outer diameter of the die and thus of the radial outermost reinforcement ring is defined by the support of the press. If the shape being required for the support differs from the shape of the reinforcement rings, the outermost reinforcement ring is correspondingly reworked after the die has been completely assembled. 
         [0032]    The inner shape of the cores defines the outer shape of the workpiece to be processed by pressing and may thus have different designs. For example, it may be a cylindrical or conical bore. Depending on the size of the inner diameter, this shape is especially produced by turning, grinding or sinker EDM. 
         [0033]    To simplify processing and to be able to reach the axial center portion of the respective module, this module may be divided into a plurality of axial segments as this has been described above. 
         [0034]    The cores may be made of steel, especially hardened and tempered steel, and preferably carbide. The reinforcement rings may be especially made of hardened and tempered steel or fiber compound materials, especially carbon fiber compound materials. 
         [0035]    The modules are preferably designed as closed annular elements. This means that they are not divided in this direction such that they are capable of accepting the forces occurring during deforming. 
         [0036]    Advantageous developments of the invention result from the claims, the description and the drawings. The advantages of features and of combinations of a plurality of features mentioned at the beginning of the description only serve as examples and may be used alternatively or cumulatively without the necessity of embodiments according to the invention having to obtain these advantages. Without changing the scope of protection as defined by the enclosed claims, the following applies with respect to the disclosure of the original application and the patent: further features may be taken from the drawings, in particular from the illustrated designs and the dimensions of a plurality of components with respect to one another as well as from their relative arrangement and their operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or of features of different claims independent of the chosen references of the claims is also possible, and it is motivated herewith. This also relates to features which are illustrated in separate drawings, or which are mentioned when describing them. These features may also be combined with features of different claims. Furthermore, it is possible that further embodiments of the invention do not have the features mentioned in the claims. 
         [0037]    The number of the features mentioned in the claims and in the description is to be understood to cover this exact number and a greater number than the mentioned number without having to explicitly use the adverb “at least”. For example, if a core is mentioned, this is to be understood such that there is exactly one core or there are two cores or more cores. Additional features may be added to these features, or these features may be the only features of the respective product. 
         [0038]    The reference signs contained in the claims are not limiting the extent of the matter protected by the claims. Their sole function is to make the claims easier to understand. 
         [0039]    In the claims, the reference numerals are only indicated for one of the plurality of exemplary embodiments. Different cores are designated with the reference numerals  5  and  14 . However, these cores may instead be other cores, as for example the cores  14  and  18  or  18  and  19 . The same respectively applies to the reinforcement rings. 
         [0040]    Some components of some embodiments are not designated with reference numerals in the drawings. This may lead to the effect that a claim mentions three outer diameters, for example, but only indicates two reference numerals. This does not mean that there are only two different outer diameters, but instead that the third outer diameter does not have a reference numeral. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0041]    In the following, the invention is further explained and described with respect to preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. 
           [0042]      FIG. 1  illustrates a longitudinal section according to line I-I in  FIGS. 9 and 11  through a first exemplary embodiment of a die being composed of a plurality of modules. 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  illustrates a longitudinal section along line II-II in  FIGS. 10 and 12  through a second exemplary embodiment of a die being composed of a plurality of modules. 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates a longitudinal section through a first exemplary embodiment of a die module set. 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  illustrates a longitudinal section through a first exemplary embodiment of a die module set kit including two die module sets. 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates a longitudinal section through another exemplary embodiment of a die being composed of modules. 
           [0047]      FIG. 6  illustrates a longitudinal section through another exemplary embodiment of a die being composed of modules. 
           [0048]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section along line VII-VII in  FIG. 9  through the first exemplary embodiment of the die. 
           [0049]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 10  through the second exemplary embodiment of the die. 
           [0050]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the first embodiment of the die. 
           [0051]      FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of the second embodiment of the die. 
           [0052]      FIG. 11  illustrates a view of a front of the first embodiment of the die. 
           [0053]      FIG. 12  illustrates a view of a front of the second embodiment of the die. 
           [0054]      FIG. 13  illustrates a longitudinal section through another exemplary embodiment of a die being composed of a plurality of modules. 
           [0055]      FIG. 14  illustrates a longitudinal section through another exemplary embodiment of a die being composed of a plurality of modules. 
           [0056]      FIG. 15  illustrates a perspective view of a longitudinal section through another exemplary embodiment of a die being composed of modules. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0057]    Referring now in greater detail to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 ,  8  and  9 ,  10  and  11 ,  12  commonly illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of a novel die module set  1  for a pressing tool. The die module set  1  includes a plurality of modules. Some of these modules are assembled to form a first die  2  as this is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  9  and  11 . A different die  2  being alternatively composed of some of the modules is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  8 ,  10  and  12 . 
         [0058]    As it is to be seen in the figures, the modules are rings that are located one on the other as seen in a radial direction. They have a circular cross section at their inner sides. This further extends cylindrically in a longitudinal direction, but it could also be designed to be conical or to have a different shape. The same applies to the outer shape. The outer shape could also be designed not to be round and especially to be adapted to the support of the press. 
         [0059]    Symmetrically to the longitudinal axis  3 , the die  2  includes a bore  4  defining the shape of the workpiece to be produced by cold forming. The first die  2  being illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  9  and  11  includes a first core  5  having a first inner diameter  6  and a first outer diameter  7 , the first core  5  being located in a radial inward region. A first reinforcement ring  8  having a third inner diameter  9  and a third outer diameter  10  is arranged on the first outer diameter  7  of the first core  5  by a press fit. A second reinforcement ring  11  having a fourth inner diameter  12  and a fourth outer diameter  13  is arranged on the first reinforcement ring  8 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 2 ,  8 ,  10  and  12  illustrate another die  2  being composed of the die module set  1 . This die  2  does not include the first core  5 , but instead a second core  14  having a second inner diameter  15  and a second outer diameter  16 . The second inner diameter  15  of the second core  14  is greater than the first inner diameter  6  of the first core  5 . The second outer diameter  16  of the second core  14  is greater than the first outer diameter  7  of the first core  5 . It can be seen by the broken lines  17  extending between  FIGS. 1 and 2  for illustration purposes that the second outer diameter  16  of the second core  14  corresponds to the third outer diameter  10  of the first reinforcement ring  8 . Consequently, the first reinforcement ring  8  has been omitted. Instead, the second reinforcement ring  11  is arranged on the second core  14  by a press fit. 
         [0061]    In this way, it is possible to flexibly and quickly assemble different dies  2  from different modules of the die module set  1  to produce different workpieces. 
         [0062]    In  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7 ,  8 ,  11  and  12 , it can be furthermore seen that the modules have different thicknesses. The thickness is to be understood as the wall thickness of the respective ring—i.e. the distance between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the respective module at one side of the longitudinal axis  3  simultaneously being the axis of symmetry. The thicknesses are chosen such that the thickness of the reinforcement rings  8 ,  11  increases with their inner diameter  9 ,  12  and their outer diameter  10 ,  13 . In the present case, this means, that the thickness of the second reinforcement ring  11  is greater than the thickness of the first reinforcement ring  8 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 3  illustrates another exemplary die module set  1 . In the uppermost die  2  in  FIG. 3 , the smallest core  5  and all reinforcement rings are used. In the die  2  being illustrated directly below, some of the reinforcement rings in a radial outward direction are not illustrated. However, these reinforcement rings may exist or may not exist in all dies  2  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 3  emphasizes that the die module set  1  may have a greater number of different cores and reinforcement rings. In the present case, in addition to the first core  5  and the second core  14 , there are cores  18  and  19 . In addition to the reinforcement rings  8  and  11 , reinforcement rings  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  are part of the die module set  1 . 
         [0065]    The first die  2  includes the core  5  as well as the reinforcement rings  8 ,  11  and  21 . The second die  2  includes the core  14  and the reinforcement rings  11 ,  21  and  22 . The reinforcement ring  8  has been omitted. The third die  2  includes the core  18  and the reinforcement rings  21 ,  22  and  23 . The reinforcement ring  11  has been omitted. The fourth die  2  includes the core  19  and the reinforcement rings  22 ,  23  and  24 . The reinforcement ring  21  has been omitted. 
         [0066]      FIG. 4  illustrates a longitudinal sectional view through a first exemplary embodiment of a novel die module set kit  20  including two die module sets  1 . For reasons of clarity of the drawings, only one half left of the axis of symmetry and the longitudinal axis  3 , respectively, is illustrated. The die module set kit  20  includes two different die module sets  1 . The die module set  1  being illustrated in the upper part of  FIG. 4  corresponds to the die module set  1  being illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  7  and  8  such that further explanations are not required. However, it is to be understood that the same variations with respect to the composition of the different dies  2  are possible within this die module set  1 . 
         [0067]    It can be seen by the broken lines  17  that the second die module set  1  being illustrated in the lower part of  FIG. 4  includes a core  28  having the same inner diameter, but an outer diameter being different (smaller) than the one of the core  5 . As seen in a radial outward direction, the reinforcement rings  29 - 37  follow. These reinforcement rings  29 - 37  have other inner and outer diameters than the reinforcement rings  8 ,  11  and  21 - 27 . The grid resulting from the differences between the diameters is offset approximately evenly with respect to the grid or the division of the first die module set  1 . In other words, an outer diameter of a reinforcement ring of the second module set kit  20  is arranged approximately in the middle between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of a corresponding reinforcement ring of the first die module set kit  20 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 5  illustrates a longitudinal sectional view through another exemplary embodiment of a die  2  being composed of modules. In this case, the die  2  includes a core  5  being designed to be divided in an axial direction—i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis  3 . The core  5  includes three segments  38 ,  39  and  40 . In this case, the two segments  39  and  40  have the same inner diameter which differs from the inner diameter of the other segment  38 . All three segments  38 ,  39 ,  40  have different outer diameters. To compensate these different outer diameters, there are filling rings  41 ,  42 . These filling rings  41 ,  42  are designed as reinforcement rings. They partly overlap with the core  5  in a radial direction. The additional reinforcement rings  43 ,  44  and  45  follow in a radial outward direction. 
         [0069]      FIG. 6  illustrates a longitudinal sectional view through another exemplary embodiment of a die  2  being composed of modules. In this case, the reinforcement rings  46 ,  47 ,  48  and  49  are each divided in an axial direction. Thus, they include segments  51  and  52 . These segments  51 ,  52  do not overlap with the core  5  in a radial direction. 
         [0070]      FIGS. 13 and 14  commonly illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the novel die module set  1  for a pressing tool. This illustration corresponds to the one of  FIGS. 1 and 2  such that it is referred to the above statements. 
         [0071]    In the illustrated example, the first die  2  illustrated in  FIG. 13  includes the second core  14  having two different deforming sections. In the region of the first deforming section, the core  14  has the second inner diameter  15 . However, this does not extend over the entire axial length of the core  14 . In the second deforming section, the core  14  has a greater inner diameter  53 . This means that the bore  4  is designed to be stepped. 
         [0072]    The deforming section being formed by the smaller inner diameter  15  especially serves to deform the shank of a screw. The deforming section being formed by the greater inner diameter  53  especially serves to design the head of the screw. 
         [0073]    The illustrated die  2  in addition to the stepped core  14  further includes the reinforcement rings  11 ,  21  and  22 . 
         [0074]    The die  2  illustrated in  FIG. 14  includes the stepped core  5  as well as the reinforcement rings  8 ,  11 ,  21  and  22 . The inner diameter  6  defining the first deforming section corresponds to the inner diameter  15 . The inner diameter  54  defining the second deforming section is greater than the inner diameter  53 . In this way, a screw having the same shank as the one illustrated in  FIG. 13 , but having a head with a greater outer diameter can be produced with this core  5 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 15  illustrates a perspective view of a longitudinal section through another exemplary embodiment of a die  2  being composed of modules. In this case, the core  5  is designed to be divided in an axial direction and it includes the segments  38 ,  39  and  40 . The segments  38 ,  39  and  40  have different inner diameters  6  and  53 . However, they could also have identical inner diameters. The segment  39  is designed as a transition piece in which the change of the diameter is realized. 
         [0076]    The segments  38 ,  39  and  40  do not only have different inner diameters, but also different outer diameters. However, they could also have the same outer diameter. The outer diameters are chosen such that they fulfill the system requirements of the die module set  1 . This means that it is e.g. possible to use reinforcement rings which are divided in an axial direction. In this way, the segments  38 ,  39 ,  40  are combined with different reinforcement rings of the modular system within the modular system. In the illustrated example, the reinforcement ring  8  includes the segments  55 ,  56  and  57 . The reinforcement rings  11  and  21  follow in a radial outward direction. 
         [0077]    The different cores and reinforcement rings may not only be used in different combinations to assemble different dies  2 , but instead also commonly in a die  2  being composed of segments. In this way, a multitude of different pressing tools can be produced in a flexible way on the basis of the modules of the die module set  1 . 
         [0078]    Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.