A model die for measuring values of parameters inherent in the drawing of pieces of sheet metal and a method which uses the die

Abstract: The model die (6) for measuring values of parameters inherent in the drawing of pieces of sheet metal to produce shaped elements, each including at least one curved surface region which has a critical radius of curvature, has at least one curved surface region which is a copy of the region with critical curvature of the shaped element to be produced. The die has at least one sensor selected from the group comprising pressure, temperature, linear-displacement, vibration, breakage and thickness sensors (20, 26, 14, 16, 22, 24) for measuring the value of a parameter of the drawing of a model shaped element which can be correlated functionally to a corresponding parameter inherent in the drawing of the shaped element on an industrial scale. If the value measured differs from the value which can be calculated or predicted on the basis of a mathematical model of the drawing method, it can be used to improve the mathematical model which can be used for analysing and/or controlling the drawing method.

Description: The present invention relates to a model die for measuring values of parameters inherent in the drawing of pieces of sheet metal and to a drawing method which uses the die. In particular, the model die is used in connection with the production of shaped elements each including at least one curved surface region which has a critical radius of curvature, that is a radius of less than 5 mm. In the prior art, mathematical models have been developed for simulating drawing processes in order to calculate or predict the values of the various parameters of the processes, such as, for example, stresses and deformations of the sheet metal. The development of the drawing process can be analysed on the basis of these data in order to improve its characteristics, for example, by reducing the cycle time or the energy used. The mathematical models developed up to now are mainly theoretical, however, and are not so sophisticated as to take account of all the parameters which affect the actual processes and analyses based upon them may therefore not be completely satisfactory. In order to prevent this problem, the subject of the present invention is a model die of the type indicated above, characterised in that it has at least one curved surface region which is a copy of the at least one region with critical curvature of the shaped element to be produced, the die having at least one sensor selected from the group comprising pressure, temperature, linear-displacement, vibration, breakage and thickness sensors for measuring the value of a parameter of the drawing of a model shaped element which can be correlated functionally to a corresponding parameter inherent in the drawing of the shaped element on an industrial scale, the value measured being usable to improve a mathematical model of the drawing method if the value measured differs from the value which can be calculated or predicted on the basis of the model, which can be used to analyse and/or control the drawing method for the production of the shaped elements on an industrial scale. A further subject of the present invention is a method for drawing pieces of sheet metal to produce shaped elements, each including at least one curved surface region which has a critical radius of curvature, characterised in that it includes the steps of: providing a model die having a surface which is a copy of the at least one region of the shaped element which has critical curvature, providing the surface of the model die with at least one sensor selected from the group comprising pressure, temperature, linear-displacement, vibration, breakage and thickness sensors for measuring the value of a parameter of the drawing method, drawing at least one piece of sheet metal with the model die and deriving the value of the corresponding parameter from the at least one sensor, using the value measured to improve a mathematical model of the drawing method if the value measured differs from the value which can be calculated or predicted on the basis of the model, and using the improved mathematical model to analyse and/or control the drawing method for the production of the shaped elements on an industrial scale. Advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawing which is provided by way of non-limiting example and shows schematically and in perspective a model die according to the invention. The punch and the matrix of a model die 6 for drawing pieces of sheet metal are indicated 2 and 4 respectively. The materials used to construct the die 6 may be, for example, cast iron, steel, or epoxy resins. The punch 2 has a flat configuration with a central cross-shaped projection 8 with four different arms, and the matrix 4 has a flat configuration with a central recess 10 of a shape corresponding to that of the projection 8. The projection 8 and the recess 10 have curved surface regions which have critical radii of curvature, that is radii of less than 5 mm, and which reproduce correspondingly curved surfaces of the shaped elements to be produced on an industrial scale. Two linear-displacement sensors 14a, 14b are disposed in the flat region of the punch 2, on opposite sides of the projection 8. A sensor 16 for sensing vibrations of the die-holder plates 18 is also located near the sensor 14a. The linear-displacement sensors are, for example, model-2000HR sensors from the firm Schaevitz and the vibration sensor is, for example, a type-4384S sensor from the firm Bruel Kjaer. Pressure sensors 20 are also located symmetrically in each of the four sectors defined in the flat region by the projection 8. These sensors may be, for example, model-PGM-200KD sensors from the firm Kyowa. Moreover, a type-8312 ultrasound sensor 22 from the firm Bruel Kjaer is positioned on one of the arms of the projection 8 for detecting sounds emitted during breakage. As regards the matrix 4, thickness sensors 24, for example, model-Alpha IPS sensors produced by the company Krautkramer, are positioned at the ends of two adjacent arms of the recess 10. Moreover, two temperature sensors 26 of the optical pyrometric type, for example, Thermo Point model-6300 LTCF sensors produced by the company Agema, are located at the junctions between two pairs of adjacent arms. All the sensors are connected to known devices, not shown in the drawings, for amplifying, recording and displaying the signals received. The die 6 is used to produce model shaped elements by the drawing of pieces of sheet metal and to derive from the sensors the values of the corresponding parameters of the process which are measured. Should these values differ from the values which can be calculated or predicted on the basis of mathematical models of the drawing method, they can be used to improve the mathematical models. The improved mathematical models are used to analyse and/or control the method for the drawing of pieces of sheet metal on an industrial scale in order to produce shaped elements which have curved regions with critical radii of curvature in a manner corresponding to the drawing of elements by the model die.

Claims: A model die (6) for measuring values of parameters inherent in the drawing of pieces of sheet metal to produce shaped elements each including at least one curved surface region which has a critical radius of curvature, characterised in that it has at least one curved surface region which is a copy of the at least one region with critical curvature of the shaped element to be produced, the die having at least one sensor selected from the group comprising of pressure, temperature, linear-displacement, vibration, breakage and thickness sensors (20, 26, 14, 16, 22, 24) for measuring the value of a parameter of the drawing of a model shaped element which can be correlated functionally to a corresponding parameter inherent in the drawing of the shaped element on an industrial scale, the value measured being usable to improve a mathematical model of the drawing method if the value measured differs from the value which can be calculated or predicted on the basis of the model, which can be used to analyse and/or control the drawing method for the production of the shaped elements on an industrial scale. A method for drawing pieces of sheet metal to produce shaped elements each including at least one curved surface region which has a critical radius of curvature, characterised in that it includes the steps of: providing a model die (6) having a surface which is a copy of the at least one region of the shaped element which has critical curvature, providing the surface of the model die (6)with at least one sensor selected from the group comprising pressure, temperature, linear-displacement, vibration, breakage and thickness sensors (20, 26, 14, 16, 22, 24) for measuring the value of a parameter of the drawing method, drawing at least one piece of sheet metal with the model die (6) and deriving the value of the corresponding parameter from the at least one sensor, using the value measured to improve a mathematical model of the drawing method if the value measured differs from the value which can be calculated or predicted on the basis of the model, and using the improved mathematical model to analyse and/or control the drawing method for the production of the shaped elements on an industrial scale.

Inventors: DA RE MARIO, DA RE', MARIO
Applicants: FIAT AUTO SPA, FIAT AUTO S.P.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G05B19
IPC codes: B21D22, G05B19, B21D37, B23Q35