Patent ID: 7594417

Claim:
An apparatus for wiper die monitoring during a bending operation performed on a tubular workpiece, comprising: a pressure sensitive wiper die, comprising: a wiper die holder having a holder mating surface and an oppositely disposed holder workpiece seating surface; a wiper die insert having an insert mating surface and an oppositely disposed insert workpiece seating surface, said insert mating surface complementing said holder mating surface, said wiper die insert being heldably located by said wiper die holder such that said insert mating surface normally abuts said holder mating surface, an axial abutment being disposed between said wiper die insert and said wiper die holder; a first set of pressure sensors disposed at the normal abutment of said wiper die insert with respect to said wiper die holder; and a second set of pressure sensors disposed at the axial abutment of said wiper die insert with respect to said wiper die holder.