Apparatus for setting the shut height of a press

A portable measuring device used for setting the shut height of the dies of a press. The measuring device includes a gauge or indicator releasably mounted on a finished surface of one of the dies. A paddle releasably mounted on a finished surface of the other die engages an indicator probe when the dies are relatively moved toward each other, to provide a measurement of the distance between the dies. This measurement is used to set the shut height of the dies.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for setting the shut height 
of the dies in a press. 
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
Stamping dies are mounted in stamping presses for forming sheet metal into 
desired shapes, such as car doors, hoods and the like. Parts are formed by 
placing the sheet metal between opposed dies and bringing the dies 
together by means of a reciprocating drive mechanism. 
The stamping press typically has a ram on which the upper die is mounted, 
and a bolster which mounts the lower die. The ram and upper die are raised 
to permit insertion of the sheet metal. The ram is moved to a lower 
position to form a stamping between the dies. The exact location of this 
lower position is of importance in stamping out uniform and dimensionally 
consistent parts. 
When the ram is in its lower position, only a small space exists between 
the dies. Because this space is so small, it cannot conveniently be 
measured directly. This invention provides apparatus for indirectly yet 
accurately measuring this space to determine the shut height of the die. 
The dies of a stamping press have confronting finished surfaces which are 
provided for the insertion of a steel cylinder block to prevent 
inadvertent shutting of the dies when the press is being worked on by die 
setters and other personnel. These finished surfaces are employed in the 
practice of the present invention. 
The apparatus of this invention includes two devices. One is temporarily 
mounted on the finished surface of one die and comprises an indicator 
having a depressible probe. The other comprises a probe contact member 
temporarily mounted on the other die in position to be contacted by and 
depress the probe upon relative movement of the dies toward one another. 
The indicator registers the separation of the dies by the extent to which 
the probe is depressed. 
More specifically, the indicator is secured to a bracket and the bracket is 
mounted on the finished surface of one of the dies by a magnet or magnets. 
The probe contact member is preferably a rigid bar in the form of an 
elongated paddle secured to the finished surface of the other die by a 
magnet or magnets. 
In a preferred form of the invention, the indicator is located outside the 
path of relative movement of the dies and the probe is in the form of an 
elongated plunger extending parallel to the path. 
It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for setting the shut 
height of the dies of a press having the foregoing features. 
Other objects are to provide apparatus for setting the shut height of dies 
which is of rugged and durable construction, capable of being readily and 
inexpensively manufactured, and easy to install and operate. 
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will 
become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially 
when taken with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the stamping press 10 has 
a stationary bolster 12 on which is mounted a lower die 14. A ram 16 above 
the bolster and lower die is supported for vertical reciprocation on 
vertical side posts or rails 18 by a drive mechanism 20 operated by a 
control panel 21. An upper die 22 is mounted on the ram in opposed 
relation to the lower die 14 and moves with the ram toward and away from 
the lower die. 
The lower and upper dies 14 and 22 have complementary die parts 24 and 26 
shaped to form a stamping when the upper die is moved to its lowermost 
position. The die parts 24 and 26 face one another and are formed on the 
horizontal, rectangular die plates 28 and 30. The die plates 28 and 30 
have horizontal finished surfaces 32 and 34 at their edges. The finished 
surfaces 32 and 34 are of a material, such as steel, capable of being 
attracted by a magnet. Preferably, the finished surfaces 32 are at the 
four corners of the lower die plate 28 and confront the respective 
finished surfaces 34 at the four corners of the upper die plate 30. To 
prevent inadvertent shutting of the dies when the press is being worked on 
by die setters and others, a steel cylinder block may be placed between 
any two confronting finished surfaces. 
The apparatus for setting the shut height of the dies comprises a portable 
measuring device 37 which includes two parts 38 and 40. As shown, the part 
38 is mounted on the upper die 22 and the part 40 is mounted on the lower 
die 14. 
The measuring device part 38 comprises a gauge or indicator 42 and a 
mounting bracket 44. The mounting bracket is an L-shaped member having 
legs 46 and 48 extending perpendicular to one another. 
The leg 46 extends under one of the finished surfaces 34 of the upper die. 
Two spaced magnets 50 are rigidly secured by mounting brackets 51 to the 
top of leg 46. Magnets 50 have coplanar upper surfaces which are 
magnetically applied to the finished surface 34 and releasably hold the 
leg 46 affixed thereto in horizontal position. The leg 46 has an end 52 
which extends outwardly beyond the side of the upper die. 
The leg 48 of bracket 44 is rigidly secured to the leg 46 and extends 
vertically upwardly. The indicator 42 has a housing 55 secured to the 
outer side of the leg 48 outside the path of movement of the upper die. 
The housing 55 rests on the outwardly extending end 52 of leg 46. The 
indicator 42 has a vertical barrel 56 which is parallel to the path of the 
upper die and extends from housing 55 beneath the end 52 of leg 46. An 
elongated vertical probe 58 is reciprocable within the barrel. The probe 
58 is in the form of an elongated plunger and is spring-urged to the 
extended position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 and can be depressed upwardly 
within the barrel as described more fully hereinafter. The indicator 
housing 55 has a display window 60 where a dial or the like registers and 
holds the position of the probe, that is, the extent to which it is 
depressed. The probe moves with the indicator housing 55 outside the path 
of the upper die. 
The part 40 of the measuring device 37 is a rigid bar in the form of a 
relatively thin flat blade or paddle 62 that serves as a probe contact 
member. Paddle 62 is of uniform thickness and has a relatively wide body 
portion 64 and an integral, somewhat narrower terminal portion 66 
extending longitudinally from the body portion. The body portion 64 
extends over the finished surface 32 of the lower die opposed to the 
finished surface of the upper die to which the indicator 42 is applied. 
Two spaced magnets 68 are rigidly secured by mounting brackets 69 to the 
bottom of the body portion 64 and have coplanar lower surfaces which are 
magnetically applied to the finished surface 32 of the lower die to 
releasably hold the paddle 62 affixed thereto in horizontal position. The 
terminal portion 66 of the paddle 62 extends beyond the side of lower die 
14 into the path of the probe. 
In order to set the shut height of the press, the indicator 42 and bracket 
44 are temporarily mounted on one of the finished surfaces 34 of the upper 
die 22 by magnets 50, as shown in the drawings. As also shown, the paddle 
62 is temporarily mounted on the opposing finished surface 32 of the lower 
die 14 by magnets 68, with the terminal portion 66 of the paddle in the 
path of movement of the indicator probe 58. The ram 16 is then cycled to 
cause the upper die to approach the lower die. The probe 58 is outside the 
path of movement of the upper die and moves vertically downward with the 
upper die until it contacts and is depressed by the terminal portion 66 of 
paddle 62. The degree or extent of probe depression is measured by the 
indicator 42 and is registered and held by the dial in the display window 
60 and is a measure of the distance between the finished surfaces 32 and 
34 of the dies. This is also an indirect measurement of the distance 
between the die parts 24 and 26. The low point in the cycle of the upper 
die can be adjusted as desired based on the measurement resulting from 
this use of the indicator 42 and paddle 62, thereby setting the shut 
height of the press and producing the desired thickness of stampings. Once 
the shut height has been determined, the measuring device is removed from 
the dies and the press is ready to stamp out dimensionally consistent 
parts. 
Only one measurement is needed for die setting. However, to be sure that 
the ram and dies are level, a reading can be taken at each corner of the 
dies.