Patent Description:
Applications for wire have become more and more demanding from technical and commercial perspectives. This has required wire producers to increase production speeds and draw wire to ever tighter finished wire tolerances and specific mechanical properties with minimum downtime. Some examples are production of Ultra High Tensile carbon wire, super duplex stainless steels, titanium, Inconel, and many others.

In order to produce finished wire of a targeted diameter and mechanical properties, wire rod of different metal alloys is drawn through one or more wire-drawing dies used in specialized wire-drawing machinery to reduce its diameter or change its shape. In order to reach the required wire diameter and mechanical properties, the wire is cold-drawn in as few as <NUM> and as many as <NUM> or more consecutive steps.

In the current state of the industry, most wire drawing dies nibs are permanently encased in steel or other metallic cases which are discarded as soon as the carbide or diamond nib material has worn past its useful life. At that point, the cases and permanently cased nib are discarded and recycled. A wire drawing die nib is the core material in a wire drawing die that is made of tungsten carbide, polycrystalline diamond, natural or synthetic diamond amongst other hard materials. In certain applications, the die nibs are replaceable.

<CIT>, forming the basis for the preamble of claim <NUM>, relates to an ultrasonic wall thickness measuring apparatus for a metal tube for measuring the wall thickness of a metal tube using ultrasonic waves. <CIT> relates to a drawing machine for drawing tubes provided with an in-line system for detecting the eccentricity of the tube and means for adjusting said eccentricity. <CIT> relates to a drawing die apparatus for reducing the wall thickness of a thin wall metal tube in cooperation with a floating pin or a fixed mandrel. <CIT> relates to a measuring device for measuring wall thickness or uneven walls on running pipes. <CIT> relates to a drawing die arrangement having a drawing tool that acts on an elongated workpiece, and having a drawing tool support on which the drawing tool is mounted, counteracting the drawing tool, in which support a measurement device that measures the mass distribution of the workpiece material is disposed on the drawing tool, wherein a coupling medium circulated between the measurement device and the drawing tool. <CIT> relates to a metal die for plastic working and to a holder and housing case. <CIT> relates to an automatic-alignment load-detection apparatus and method, and in particular, to an automatic-alignment load-detection apparatus and method used for a wire drawing machine.

The wiring process results in significant stress upon the various components of the drawing system. Due to the significantly stress on the system, system components regularly fail before their expected usable life. It is very difficult to measure the system's physical characteristics. The prior art includes various probes and sensors that can be placed externally on the components of a wire drawing machine. However, there are no internal sensors that provide a clear picture of the status of the various components and that can be combined to control the various parameters of the wire drawing process.

This application is directed to wire drawing monitoring system and the components that facilitate control of the wire drawing process. There is provided a drawing die holder that includes a drawing channel, and a die probe channel that extends from an outer wall to an inner wall of the drawing die holder. The invention provides a die box having two or more probes that measure various characteristics of components of the die box or a wire being drawn through the die box. Also disclosed is a system that consists of a wire drawing monitoring system having a wire drawing box comprising two or more probes that measure two or more properties of a wire drawing device (not according to the invention). The one of said two or more properties are measured at a die surface that is parallel to a die holder surface, and a control unit, wherein the two or more probes send information to the control unit.

Other and additional objects of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of this entire specification.

The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are considered in more detail, in relation to the following description of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to build and use an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the invention, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Described herein is a wire drawing monitoring system that collects various characteristics of the components a wire drawing machine or multiple wire drawing machines to improve the wire drawing machine's efficiency, reduce downtime due to component failure, and reduce costs. The wire drawing monitoring system may include a Smart Die System component, as described herein. The system collects information from one or more probes that measure physical characteristics of the components of the wire drawing machine, such as the various dies used in the process, die holders, die boxes and the wire itself. As described herein, the term "probe" means any type of device that collects information to be used by the system, whether it is a physical probe or any type of sensor. The system may collect information from two or more probes that measure physical characteristics of the components of the wire drawing machine. The monitoring system includes a die box <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

The die box <NUM> has a drawing die holder <NUM> that houses a die <NUM>, as shown on <FIG>. As known in the industry, the die <NUM> is made of a hard material such as tungsten carbide, polycrystalline diamond, natural diamond, or any other similar material. The die may also be referred to as a "nib" in certain applications. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the die <NUM> may be a single construction or several components, such as a pressure die <NUM> or nib, a drawing die <NUM>, or a secondary die131. <FIG> shows a drawing die holder <NUM> housing a two piece die <NUM>, comprising a drawing die <NUM> and a pressure die <NUM> or nib. <FIG> and <FIG> show a die holder housing a three piece die <NUM>, comprising a drawing die <NUM>, a pressure die <NUM>, and a secondary die <NUM>. <FIG> is an expanded view of a three piece die <NUM> in a die box <NUM>. The drawing die holder <NUM> is configured to accept a probe <NUM> that measures one or more properties or physical characteristics of the die <NUM> used during a wire drawing process. The drawing die holder <NUM> has a drawing channel <NUM>, which supports the die <NUM> during the wire drawing process. The drawing channel <NUM> extends longitudinally along the direction of travel of a wire during the drawing process. The drawing die holder <NUM> also has a die probe channel <NUM> that extends from a holder outer wall <NUM> to a holder inner wall <NUM> of the drawing die holder <NUM>. As described herein, the drawing channel <NUM> is the boundary between the die outer wall <NUM> and the drawing die holder <NUM>; the drawing channel <NUM> is the channel formed by the inner wall of the drawing die holder <NUM>. The drawing channel <NUM> is different and runs parallel to the wire forming channel <NUM>, which is the channel formed by the die inner wall <NUM>.

The die probe channel <NUM> may be perpendicular or orthogonal to the drawing channel <NUM>. It is contemplated, however, that in other embodiments that die probe channel <NUM> may have an orientation in relation to the drawing channel <NUM> that has a different angle, provided that the probe has access to the die102. For example, if the drawing channel <NUM> is tapered, the probe channel <NUM>, may extend vertically away from the drawing channel <NUM>, without necessarily being perpendicularly or orthogonal to the drawing channel <NUM>.

The die <NUM> may be cased within the drawing die holder <NUM>. In other embodiments, the die <NUM> can be separated from the die holder <NUM>. The drawing die holder <NUM>, in some embodiments, can be divided into a first base <NUM> and a cap <NUM>. The first base <NUM> holds a drawing die <NUM> that can be removed from the first base <NUM>. he drawing die <NUM> may be encased within the first base <NUM> and is not removable or replaceable. The cap <NUM> of the drawing die holder <NUM> holds a pressure die <NUM> or nib that can be removed from the cap <NUM>. The die holder <NUM> may hold more than one pressure die <NUM>. The pressure die <NUM> may be encased within the cap <NUM> and is not removable or replaceable. The drawing die holder <NUM> may include a second base <NUM>. The second base <NUM> holds an secondary die <NUM> that is removable or replaceable. The secondary die <NUM> may be encased within the second base123 and is not removable or replaceable. The secondary die <NUM> is an additional die that is used to impart specific properties to the wire, in addition to those imparted by the drawing die <NUM> and the pressure die <NUM>. The secondary die <NUM> may have a small clearance to the drawn wire. The secondary die <NUM> may impart a further diameter reduction of the wire. The drawing die <NUM> may impart a small skin pass to harden the outer surface of the wire.

The die probe channel <NUM>, in some embodiments, is within the first base <NUM>. In embodiments where the drawing die <NUM> is permanently encased within the first base <NUM>, which means that the drawing die <NUM> cannot be removed from the base <NUM>; the die probe channel <NUM> extends to holder inner wall <NUM> of the drawing die holder <NUM>, that is the portion of the first base <NUM> that encases the drawing die <NUM>. Where the drawing die <NUM> is not encased, but is removable, from the first base <NUM>; the die probe channel <NUM> extends to holder inner wall <NUM> of the drawing die holder <NUM>, that is the portion of the first base <NUM> that comes in contact with the drawing die <NUM>.

The die probe channel <NUM> houses a probe <NUM>. In one embodiment, the probe <NUM> collects information from any portion of the die <NUM>, whether the drawing die <NUM>, the pressure die <NUM>, or the secondary die <NUM>. The probe <NUM> contacts the die <NUM>, in some embodiments. The probe <NUM>, in some embodiments, is a transducer that sends information to a sensor. The probe <NUM> in some embodiments is the transducer or information collector for one or more of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor, a pyrometer, a magnetic field sensor, or any other type of sensor that that may collect physical characteristics from the die <NUM>, the drawing die holder <NUM>, or the wire that is being pulled through the drawing die holder <NUM>. In some embodiments, where the sensor collects temperature information, the temperature sensor is a thermocouple or infrared sensor and the probe <NUM> is the portion of such sensor that collects and sends the temperature information to a data processing device <NUM>. In some embodiments, the probe <NUM> physically contacts with the die <NUM>. In other embodiments, the probe <NUM> has access to the die <NUM> through the die probe channel <NUM> and collects information from the die <NUM> without coming in direct contact with the die <NUM>.

The probe <NUM>, in some embodiments, is encased within the die probe channel <NUM> that is the probe <NUM> is fixed within the die probe channel <NUM> and is not allowed to slide in or out the die probe channel <NUM>. In other embodiments, the probe <NUM> is removable from the die probe channel <NUM>. In some embodiments, a retainer, such as a spring, provides pressure to the probe <NUM> against the die <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the die probe channel <NUM> may contain conductive filling material <NUM>. A conductive filling material <NUM> is one that easily carries a physical characteristic. The conductive filling material <NUM> may be thermally conductive to allow accurate reading of temperature of the die <NUM>. The conductive filling material <NUM> may be at a bottom portion of the die probe channel <NUM> and contacts the die <NUM>. The probe <NUM> may contact the conductive filling material <NUM>, collecting information indirectly from the die <NUM>. The probe <NUM> may be encased within the die probe channel <NUM> that is the probe <NUM> is in a fixed position within the die probe channel <NUM> and is not allowed to slide in or out the die probe channel <NUM> and contacts the conductive filling material <NUM>. The probe <NUM> may be removable from the die probe channel <NUM>. A retainer, such as a spring, may provide pressure to the probe <NUM> against the conductive filling material <NUM>.

The probe <NUM>, in some embodiments sends information from the die <NUM>, the die holder <NUM>, or other components to a data processing device <NUM>. The data processing device <NUM>, in some embodiments, is a reader, a transmitter, or a data logger. In some embodiments, the probe <NUM> is physically connected to the data processing device <NUM>. In other embodiments, the probe <NUM> communicates wirelessly to the data processing device <NUM>. Wireless communication reduces the possibility of physical connections being damaged during machine operations or when there is a wire drawing failure, in which loose wire under high tension that comes lose damage wired connections.

In some embodiments, the drawing die holder <NUM> is housed within a die box <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. The die box <NUM> includes a box probe channel <NUM>. The box probe channel <NUM> extends from the box outer wall <NUM> to the box inner wall <NUM>, which is adjacent and runs parallel to the holder outer wall <NUM>.

The box probe channel <NUM> houses the probe <NUM>. In one embodiment, the probe <NUM> may collect information from any portion of the drawing die holder <NUM>. In some embodiments, the probe <NUM> physically contacts with the die holder <NUM>. In other embodiments, the probe <NUM> has access to the die holder <NUM> through the box probe channel <NUM> and collects information from the drawing die holder <NUM> without coming in direct contact with the drawing die holder <NUM>. In further embodiments, the probe <NUM> extends through the die holder <NUM> and comes in contact with the die <NUM> and collects information from the die <NUM>. In some embodiments, the probe <NUM> comes in contact with the drawing die <NUM>. In further embodiments, the probe <NUM> extends through the die holder <NUM> but does not contact the die <NUM>. The probe <NUM> collects information from the die <NUM> without direct contact with the die <NUM>.

The probe <NUM>, in some embodiments, is encased within the die box probe channel <NUM> that is the probe <NUM> is fixed within the box probe channel <NUM> and is not allowed to slide in or out the box probe channel <NUM>. In other embodiments, the probe <NUM> is removable from the box probe channel <NUM>. In some embodiments, a retainer, such as a spring, provides pressure to the probe <NUM> against the die holder <NUM>.

The die box probe channel <NUM> may contain conducive filling material <NUM>. The conductive filling material <NUM> may be at a bottom portion of the box probe channel <NUM> and contacts the die holder <NUM>. The probe <NUM> may contact the conductive filling material <NUM>, collecting information indirectly from the die holder <NUM>. The probe <NUM> may be encased within the box probe channel <NUM> that is the probe <NUM> is fixed within the box probe channel <NUM> and is not allowed to slide in or out the box probe channel <NUM> and contacts the conductive filling material <NUM>. The probe <NUM> may be removable from the box probe channel <NUM>. A retainer, such as a spring, may provide pressure to the probe <NUM> against the conductive filling material <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the die box <NUM> houses a die holder <NUM> that includes a die probe channel <NUM>. The die box of claim 2B, wherein the box probe channel <NUM> and the die probe channel <NUM> are aligned; the probe <NUM> can then extend through both channels. The die box <NUM> and the die holder <NUM> may an alignment element <NUM> that assist in properly aligning the die box probe channel <NUM> and the die probe channel <NUM>. The alignment may be radial. The alignment element <NUM>, for radial alignment, may have two components: an alignment pin <NUM> and a recess <NUM> that matches the alignment pin <NUM>. The alignment pin <NUM> may be part of the die box <NUM> and the recess <NUM> is in the die holder <NUM>. The alignment pin <NUM> may be part of the die holder <NUM> and the recess <NUM> is part of the die box <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the die box <NUM> has a die box alignment channel <NUM>. The die box alignment channel <NUM> may be parallel to the die box probe channel <NUM>. The die box alignment channel <NUM> is also parallel to the die probe channel <NUM>. A first portion <NUM> of the alignment channel <NUM> may be in the drawing die holder <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> of the die box alignment channel <NUM> is adjacent to the drawing die holder <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the alignment channel <NUM> come together with the second portion <NUM> of the alignment channel <NUM> to form a single alignment channel that accommodates an alignment pin <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the alignment channel may have an oblong or irregular shape. The oblong or irregular shape may be on the second portion <NUM> of the die box alignment channel <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the die box <NUM> has a jacket <NUM> for indirect cooling of the die holder <NUM>. Indirect cooling, as discussed herein, refers to a type of cooling in which the die holder <NUM> is surrounded by the jacket <NUM>, which comprises coolant channels through which the coolant flows removing heat from the jacket <NUM>, which, in turn, removes heat from the die holder <NUM>. The jacket <NUM> is a coolant jacket, in some embodiments, in some embodiments the coolant is water. The jacket <NUM> supports the die holder <NUM>. The jacket <NUM> further provides a coolant channel <NUM>, which provides, which provides indirect cooling to the die holder <NUM> and the die <NUM>.

The die box <NUM> may include a third portion of the box alignment channel <NUM> that extends through the jacket <NUM>. The third portion <NUM> of the box alignment channel <NUM> is aligned with the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the box alignment channel <NUM>. The alignment pin <NUM> may extend through the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, and the third portion <NUM> of the box alignment channel <NUM>.

The die box <NUM> has a top side <NUM> that also has a displaceable safety block <NUM>. The displaceable safety block <NUM> is pressed against the die box <NUM> by an "over center" latching type toggle clamp <NUM>. The displaceable safety block <NUM> of the die box <NUM> may be located above the jacket <NUM>, on the top side <NUM> of the die box <NUM>. The pin <NUM> may be removably attached to the displaceable safety block <NUM>. When the latching type toggle clamp <NUM> is actuated to the locked position the displaceable safety block <NUM> and the pin <NUM> are secured. When the latching type toggle clamp <NUM> is actuated to the unlocked position, the safety block <NUM> and pin <NUM> are free to be removed from the die box <NUM>. In some instances, the pin <NUM> and/or safety block <NUM> may become stock and need to be removed from the die box <NUM>. There are multiple displacement options in such instances.

The displaceable safety block <NUM> may have primary displacement device <NUM> for prying the safety block when it is stuck. The primary displacement device <NUM> may be a flat channel <NUM> on a bottom side <NUM> of the displaceable safety block <NUM>. The channel <NUM> may extend through the displaceable safety block <NUM> from a first side to a second side. The safety channel does not go through the entire length of the displaceable safety block <NUM>, but consists of two slots, one on each side, milled into the displaceable safety block <NUM> to allow for a gap to pry the safety block <NUM> away from the top face of the die box <NUM>. A secondary displacement device <NUM> may be used to further assist a user in removing the alignment pin <NUM> from the die box <NUM>. The secondary displacement device <NUM> is a screw that pushes against the jacket and separates the displaceable safety block from the die box <NUM> when the screw is turned. A tertiary displacement device <NUM> may include a displacement channel <NUM> that extends from a die box bottom side <NUM> towards the box alignment channel <NUM> and has a diameter that is smaller than that of the alignment pin <NUM>. A displacement pin (not shown) can be inserted through the displacement channel <NUM> to push the alignment pin <NUM> out of the die box <NUM>.

A slidable support <NUM> may be included, which can slide below the safety block to prevent it from falling while die <NUM> or die holder <NUM> are being removed.

In another embodiment, the die holder <NUM> is aligned within the die box <NUM> in an axial plane. Axial alignment in some embodiments is achieved through a die box drawing channel <NUM> that is tapered, which means that the diameter at one end of the drawing channel <NUM> is different than the diameter of the drawing channel <NUM> at second end.

In one exemplary embodiment, the die box <NUM> includes a force transducer <NUM>. In some embodiments, the force transducer <NUM> is on a no-load state. In order to achieve a no-load state of the force transducer <NUM>, the die box <NUM> has a guide rod <NUM> that allows the die box <NUM> to move along an axis that is parallel to the drawing channel <NUM>. The die box <NUM>, in other embodiments, includes a plurality of guide rods <NUM>. The die box <NUM>, may also have one or more linear bearings <NUM>, or a plurality of linear bearings <NUM>.

In one embodiment, where indirect cooling is used and the die box <NUM> includes a jacket <NUM> that is connected to a backplate <NUM>. A force transfer plate <NUM> which connects to the force transducer <NUM>. The force transducer <NUM> is retained up by the backplate <NUM> and the backplate <NUM> durability is enhanced by a hardened washer <NUM> that resides between the force transducer <NUM> and the backplate <NUM>. The force transducer <NUM> is held in place by a retaining ring <NUM>. The retaining ring <NUM> applies pressure to the outer ring of the force transducer <NUM> and spring pressure is supplied by wavy washers <NUM> retained by retaining clips <NUM>. This configuration secures the force transducer <NUM> in a non pre load state. The sliding plate <NUM> ensures radial alignment of the force transfer plate <NUM> yet allowing linear movement to compress the force transducer as required by the jacket <NUM> during wire drawing.

The jacket <NUM> is connected to the backplate <NUM> by one or more guide rods <NUM> or a plurality of guide rods <NUM>. In another embodiment, the die box <NUM> has a sliding plate <NUM> between the jacket <NUM> and the backplate <NUM>. A force transducer <NUM> is placed between the sliding plate <NUM> and the backplate <NUM>. In other embodiments, a force transfer plate <NUM> is placed between the force transducer <NUM> and the jacket <NUM>.

The die box <NUM> provides direct cooling in some embodiments. A direct cooling embodiment is shown in <FIG>. As discussed herein, direct cooling refers to coolant being able to access the die holder <NUM>. In order to provide direct cooling, the die box <NUM> includes a die holder o-ring <NUM> and a die box o-ring <NUM>, which allow direct cooling of the die holder <NUM>. A coolant intake <NUM> delivers coolant to the cooling channel <NUM> that has direct contact with the drawing die holder <NUM>. As discussed above, the die holder <NUM> within the die box <NUM>, can be cooled directly or indirectly. In either type of cooling, the die box is connected to a coolant flow regulator <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The coolant flow regulator <NUM> changes the rate of coolant being pushed through the system to cool the holder <NUM> to a specific temperature. Information from various sensors described herein is utilized to adjust the flow regulator <NUM> output.

The die box <NUM>, in some embodiments, includes a die box nut <NUM>, which restricts movement of the die holder <NUM> along an axis that is parallel to the drawing channel <NUM>. In some embodiments, the installation of the die box nut <NUM> is configured to avoid axial pre-loading upon installation. In direct cooling applications, the die box nut <NUM> can only penetrate the die box <NUM> to a predetermined position that prevents loading of the force transducer <NUM>, by giving the drawing die holder space to move. In such embodiments, the drawing die holder <NUM> is allowed to move along the wire drawing axis. The drawing die holder <NUM> is only allowed to travel sufficiently to avoid pre loading, i.e. pressure when the wire is not being drawn, the force transducer.

The die box <NUM> in some embodiments includes any of the following sensors: a vibration sensor <NUM>, a magnetic sensor <NUM>, hall effect sensor <NUM>, and any other sensors. It is contemplated that the die box <NUM> may include a rotating die holder. A rotating die holder, is one that is allowed to rotate as the wire is being drawn. Rotating die holders include sensors that deliver information collected from the die holder wirelessly to the control unit.

The die box <NUM> and the die holder <NUM> are part of a drawing system that includes two or more probes that measure two or more physical properties of the die box <NUM>, the die holder <NUM>, the die <NUM>, and other components of a wire drawing system, at least one of the probes measures properties at a die surface that is parallel to a die holder surface, and a control unit. As used herein, the term "physical property" refers to a measurable quality of the die box <NUM>, die holder <NUM>, die <NUM>, or wire. Such "physical properties" may be quasi-permanent to the materials from which the components of the die box <NUM>, drawing die holder <NUM>, die <NUM>, and wire are made, such as temperature, conductivity, and so on. Other "physical properties", as used herein, refer to measurable qualities that change based the wire drawing process. For example, the temperature of the die holder <NUM> or die <NUM>, vibrations at the die box <NUM>, and other similar qualities. The two or more probes send information to the control unit. The control unit can then send the information to a graphical user interface for the user to evaluate or for a program that manages the machine's parameters to take a specific action. In some embodiments, the control unit processes the information and makes automatic adjustments to specified wire drawing parameters. For example, the control unit in some embodiments, combines the information gathered from the various probes and automatically adjusts the drawing speed of the process, the flow of coolant supplied to the die box, and other similar parameters. In some embodiments, the control unit controls the flow of coolant supplied by a coolant flow regulator at the die box. One advantage of the system described herein is that the probes send information to the control unit or data processing device <NUM> in "real time", that is while the wire is being drawn through the machine in order to be able to make adjustments to the wire drawing process without having to stop the system.

The system may comprise a plurality of die boxes <NUM> with a plurality of probes and sensors that send information to a single control unit, which, in turn, adjust the wire drawing machine's parameters. The system regulates the machine's parameters based on the information gathered from the probes <NUM> at the die box <NUM> and the drawing die holder <NUM>. The system plurality of die boxes <NUM> may be within a single wire drawing machine. The plurality of die boxes <NUM> may be in multiple wire drawing machines that are running simultaneously. The control unit is designed to change the various parameters in different machines based on real time readings of each die box <NUM>.

A wire drawing monitoring system that has a wire drawing box comprising two or more probes that measure two or more properties of a wire drawing device. As described above, one of said two or more properties are measured at a die surface that is parallel to a die holder surface. The system also has a control unit and the two or more probes send information to the control unit. The wire drawing system also includes a drawing die holder. The wire drawing system has a control unit that is configured to receive and process the information from the two or more probes. The wire drawing system, in some embodiments, includes two or more wire drawing boxes.

The system implements a method of controlling a wire drawing machine's parameters based on information collected from probes at the die box <NUM> and drawing die holder <NUM> as described above. In a first step of the method, a wire drawing machine that has a probes and sensors on one or more die boxes <NUM> and drawing die holders <NUM> initiates a wire drawing through the drawing die holder <NUM>. In a second step, information is collected from the probes <NUM> at the die holder <NUM> and die box <NUM>. In some embodiments, the probe <NUM> is within a die holder <NUM>. The probe <NUM> contacts the die <NUM>, other probes or sensors collect additional information directly from the die box <NUM> and drawing die holder <NUM>. In a third step, the information is sent to a data processing device <NUM>. The data processing device <NUM>, comprises a processing unit or computer that is programmed to collect and process the data received from the various probes. In a further step, the information collected is processed. In yet a further step, the data processing device <NUM> controls various parameters of the drawing machine at the die box <NUM> or die holder <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A die box (<NUM>) comprising two or more probes (<NUM>) configured to measure various characteristics of components of the die box (<NUM>) or a wire being drawn through the die box (<NUM>) and at least one box probe channel (<NUM>) for at least one of said two or more probes (<NUM>), the die box (<NUM>) further comprising a drawing die holder (<NUM>) comprising a drawing channel (<NUM>), characterized in that
the drawing die holder (<NUM>) further comprises a die probe channel (<NUM>) that extends from an outer wall (<NUM>) to an inner wall (<NUM>) of the drawing die holder (<NUM>), and a probe (<NUM>) housed within the die probe channel (<NUM>), and in that the at least one box probe channel (<NUM>) is aligned with the die probe channel (<NUM>).