High-temperature state deep-cavity thin-wall component rapid anti-deformation demolding tool and method

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of wall component mold, and discloses a high-temperature state deep-cavity thin-wall component rapid anti-deformation demolding tool and method. The demolding tool comprises an upper mold, a lower mold, a support component and a support component top column. The upper mold is provided with a vent hole for spraying high-pressure inert gas to the inner surface of the component to achieve instantaneous cooling. The top of the lower mold is provided with a profile groove. The support component is axially movably accommodated in the profile groove, and the outer surface of the support component and the side wall of the profile groove jointly define the outer profile of the component. The support component top column penetrates through the lower mold body and is connected with the bottom of the support component at the top end, and is used for pushing the support component during demolding. The application provides full circumferential support through the support component, realizes automatic separation of the component in combination with gas cooling, effectively prevents high-temperature demolding deformation, improves the component precision and the mold service life, and reduces the safety risk.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of thin-walled component mold technology, specifically relating to a fast anti-deformation demolding tooling and method for deep cavity thin-walled components under high temperature conditions. Background Technology

[0002] In the aerospace manufacturing field, difficult-to-deform metal materials such as titanium alloys often require thermoforming at high temperatures of 600-800℃. Current processes typically involve placing the mold in a thermoforming machine, heating it to the forming temperature, maintaining the temperature until homogeneous, and then placing the sheet metal in the mold for forming. After the component is formed, the mold needs to be opened at high temperatures, and operators wearing heavy heat-resistant protective clothing manually pry and remove the component using pliers.

[0003] This manual part removal method reveals significant limitations when dealing with deep-cavity, large-sized, thin-walled components. First, the material's yield strength decreases sharply at high temperatures, and the component is prone to uncontrollable plastic deformation during removal due to its own weight and lack of effective peripheral support, leading to loss of part precision. Second, for deep-cavity components with complex shapes, the fit with the concave mold cavity is tight at high temperatures; manual prying can introduce scratches and other damage to the component surface, and repeated prying also causes wear on the mold surface, affecting mold life and the consistency of subsequent part forming. Furthermore, the high-temperature environment and heat radiation pose a continuous safety threat to operators, resulting in high labor intensity and low work efficiency.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an innovative tooling and method for rapid and deformation-resistant demolding of deep cavity thin-walled components under high temperature conditions, so as to achieve efficient demolding of deep cavity thin-walled components made of materials such as titanium alloys, ensuring demolding efficiency, safety, and reducing labor intensity, while also ensuring the forming quality of the components. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application aims to provide a demolding fixture and method for deep-cavity thin-walled components under high-temperature conditions. By setting a liftable support component in the groove of the lower mold surface, effective peripheral support is provided for the sidewalls of the component throughout the demolding process, avoiding structural deformation caused by its own weight and demolding force. At the same time, combined with the inert gas cooling function of the upper mold, controllable separation of the component from the mold surface is achieved, ensuring forming accuracy while eliminating the safety risks and quality hazards of direct manual removal of parts.

[0006] To achieve the above technical objectives, this application specifically adopts the following technical solution: In one aspect of this application, a rapid anti-deformation demolding fixture for deep-cavity thin-walled components under high-temperature conditions is provided, comprising: The upper mold is provided with ventilation holes, which are used to spray high-pressure inert gas onto the inner surface of the formed component during the demolding process to achieve instantaneous cooling of the component. The lower mold is located directly below the upper mold, and its top has a shaped groove. A support member is axially movable and accommodated within the shaped groove. The upper surface of the support member and the sidewall of the shaped groove together define the outer surface of the deep cavity thin-walled member. A top column of the support component penetrates the lower mold body vertically, with its top end connected to the bottom of the support component, and is used to push the support component upward during demolding; The outer peripheral wall of the supporting member and the inner peripheral wall of the groove are provided with a circumferential fitting gap.

[0007] In one embodiment, the dimensions of the support member are determined by the following formula: L Z =L cj -(0.2~0.3)-2L cm ×(1+α j △t) Among them, L Z For the length or width of the supporting component; L cm It is the total thickness of both sides of the groove on the lower mold surface; L cj It is the length or width of a deep-cavity, thin-walled component at room temperature; α j It is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the mold material at the forming temperature; Δt is the difference between the forming temperature and the room temperature.

[0008] In one embodiment, the bottom of the groove of the lower mold is provided with a second cylindrical hole, and the top post of the support member passes through the second cylindrical hole with a clearance fit.

[0009] In one embodiment, the gap between the top post of the support member and the second cylindrical hole is: L 间隙 =D×(0.5%-1%) Where D is the diameter of the top column of the supporting component.

[0010] In one embodiment, the lower surface of the support member is provided with a first cylindrical hole, and the top of the top column of the support member is provided with a first cylinder that mates with and is inserted into the first cylindrical hole for positioning the support member.

[0011] In one embodiment, the bottom of the lower mold is provided with a groove for accommodating the ejection device of the lower platform of the thermoforming equipment.

[0012] In another aspect of this application, a rapid anti-deformation demolding method for deep-cavity thin-walled components under high-temperature conditions is provided, employing the aforementioned demolding fixture, comprising the following steps: 1) Place the assembled tooling into the thermoforming equipment and connect the top column of the support component to the ejection device of the equipment; 2) Connect the vent of the upper mold to an inert gas source, heat the mold to the forming temperature and keep it warm, put in the sheet material, and close the mold to form the shape; 3) After forming, the upper mold is raised, and at the same time, the ejector device drives the support member's top column to rise, pushing the support member and the part to move upward, so that it is separated from the groove of the lower mold. 4) During the ejection process, cooling inert gas is sprayed into the inner surface of the part through the vent to cool and shrink the part to assist in demolding; 5) Remove the demolded parts.

[0013] In one embodiment, the sheet material is a titanium alloy sheet.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: 1) By using support components to provide continuous and stable full-circumferential support for the deep cavity components during the demolding process, the irregular deformation caused by the component's own weight due to the decrease in strength at high temperature is effectively overcome, ensuring the forming accuracy and geometric stability of the component.

[0015] 2) By injecting inert gas through the vent hole of the upper mold, the component undergoes controlled cooling and contraction, which realizes the automatic separation of the component from the mold surface. This avoids the surface scratches of the component and the wear of the mold surface caused by the traditional manual prying method, and significantly improves the surface quality of the component and the service life of the mold.

[0016] 3) By linking the top column of the supporting component with the ejection device of the thermoforming equipment, the component is automatically ejected and separated from the mold, which completely liberates the operators from the high temperature and high risk working environment, reduces labor intensity and safety risks, and improves production cycle and work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the demolding tooling according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the lower mold structure in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the supporting component structure in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the top column structure of the supporting component in an embodiment of this application; In the diagram: 1. Upper mold, 2. Lower mold, 3. Supporting component, 4. Supporting component top column, 5. Vent hole, 6. Groove, 7. First cylindrical hole, 8. Second cylindrical hole, 9. Groove, 10. First cylinder. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solution of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments, and are only used to illustrate this application, and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of this application. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] In one specific embodiment, a rapid anti-deformation demolding tooling for deep-cavity thin-walled components under high-temperature conditions is provided, as shown in the reference. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes an upper mold 1, a lower mold 2, a support component 3, and a support component top column 4.

[0020] The upper mold 1 is designed according to the inner surface of a deep-cavity thin-walled component, and vent holes 5 are provided on the surface. One end of each vent hole 5 is connected to the inner surface of the deep-cavity thin-walled component of the upper mold 1, and the other end is connected to an external inert gas source. This source is used to spray high-pressure inert gas onto the inner surface of the formed component during demolding, causing the component to cool instantly and produce a shrinkage effect, thereby reducing the adhesion between the component and the mold and promoting component separation. It is understood that there can be multiple vent holes 5.

[0021] The lower mold 2 is fixedly installed directly below the upper mold 1, and its top is machined with a shaped groove 6. The support member 3 is axially movable and accommodated within the shaped groove 6. The upper surface of the support member 3 and the sidewall of the shaped groove 6 together define the outer surface of the deep-cavity thin-walled component. The contour of the shaped groove 6 matches the shape of the deep-cavity thin-walled component and is used to accommodate the support member 3 and the forming component during the forming process. The sidewall of the shaped groove 6 and the upper surface of the support member 3 together constitute the outer surface of the component, ensuring that the component obtains accurate shape positioning during high-temperature forming.

[0022] The bottom of the groove 6 is provided with a second cylindrical hole 8, which penetrates the body of the lower mold 2 and is used to guide the top column 4 of the support member to move in the vertical direction. In addition, the dimensions of the groove 6 are designed to take into account the high-temperature thermal expansion factor. The clearance fit ensures that the support member 3 can move smoothly axially within the groove 6, avoiding jamming or deformation of the member due to thermal expansion during demolding.

[0023] This application provides an independent, ejectable support member 3 within the groove 6 of the lower mold 2, ensuring continuous support throughout the demolding process. The support member 3 rises synchronously with the deep-cavity thin-walled component during ejection, ensuring the component remains supported at the critical stage of separation from the cavity, thereby overcoming instability and deformation caused by material softening at high temperatures and its own weight.

[0024] Meanwhile, ventilation holes 5 are provided in the upper mold 1, and inert gas is sprayed into the inner surface of the component in the early stage of demolding. The component's instantaneous cold contraction is used to achieve automatic separation from the mold surface. The cold contraction effect combined with the mechanical ejection action of the supporting component 3 constitutes a synergistic demolding mechanism of "thermal expansion and cold contraction debonding" and "mechanical ejection separation", which effectively avoids damage caused by manual prying.

[0025] The entire demolding process is automated through the linkage between the support component top column 4 and the existing ejection device of the thermoforming equipment. Without the need for additional special equipment, it completely frees operators from high-temperature and high-risk environments, achieving a balance of efficiency, safety and precision.

[0026] In some embodiments, reference is made to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a circumferential clearance is provided between the outer peripheral wall of the support member 3 and the inner peripheral wall of the groove 6 of the lower mold 2. In high-temperature forming environments, the mold material undergoes linear expansion due to heat. If an appropriate clearance is not provided, an interference fit may occur between the support member 3 and the side wall of the groove 6 due to thermal expansion, causing the support member 3 to become stuck within the groove 6. The clearance value determined by the above formula ensures that the support member 3 can move freely within the groove 6 under high-temperature conditions, and also ensures that the upper surface of the support member 3 and the side wall of the groove 6 can together form a complete and accurate outer surface.

[0027] Specifically, the dimensions of the supporting member 3 are determined according to a specific calculation formula, which is: L Z =L cj -(0.2~0.3)-2L cm ×(1+α j △t) Among them, L Z L represents the basic dimensions of the required support member 3 in the length or width direction; cm It is the total thickness of both sides of the groove 6 on the lower mold 2; L cj This refers to the corresponding length or width dimension of a deep-cavity thin-walled component measured at room temperature, i.e., standard room temperature; α j The coefficient of linear expansion of the material used to manufacture the mold under the high temperature condition set in the component forming process; Δt represents the specific temperature difference between the working temperature during component forming and the aforementioned normal temperature reference temperature.

[0028] The right side of the formula "2L" cm ×(1+α j "△t)" is used to calculate and compensate for the dimensional increase of the sidewall of the groove 6 on the lower mold 2 surface due to thermal expansion under high-temperature working conditions. This is achieved by introducing the coefficient of thermal expansion α of the mold material. jThe temperature difference Δt allows for accurate prediction of the actual contour dimensions of the sidewall of the groove 6 at the operating temperature. The formula introduces an empirical dimensional correction value of "(0.2~0.3)". This range is set to create a circumferential clearance between the outer wall of the support member 3 and the inner wall of the groove 6. This clearance ensures smooth demolding, allowing the support member 3 to move smoothly axially within the groove 6 even after being heated in a high-temperature environment, without jamming due to its own or the mold's expansion. Simultaneously, an excessively large clearance prevents the support member 3 and the sidewall of the groove 6 from forming a complete and precise component outline.

[0029] In some embodiments, reference is made to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the top post 4 of the support member and the second cylindrical hole 8 at the bottom of the groove 6 of the lower mold 2 are fitted with a clearance. The radial dimension of this clearance is determined by the following formula: L 间隙 =D×(0.5%-1%) Where D is the diameter of the top column 4 of the supporting component.

[0030] In a high-temperature forming environment, both the support component top post 4 and the lower mold 2 body will expand due to heat. If the fit between them is too tight, thermal expansion may cause the top post to get stuck in the hole, preventing it from performing the pushing action normally. The determined clearance range is to balance two key requirements: on the one hand, the clearance needs to be small enough to ensure that the support component top post 4 has good guidance during movement and avoids excessive wobble or shaking; on the other hand, the clearance needs to be large enough to compensate for the dimensional changes that may be caused by the thermal expansion of the mold and top post materials at high temperatures, thereby ensuring that the support component top post 4 can move smoothly up and down in the vertical direction throughout the demolding process.

[0031] In some embodiments, reference is made to Figure 1 , 3 As shown in Figure 4, the lower surface of the support member 3 is provided with a first cylindrical hole 7, and the top of the support member top column 4 is provided with a first cylinder 10 that mates with the first cylindrical hole 7 for positioning the support member 3. The first cylinder 10 is coaxially connected to the support member top column 4, and the diameter of the first cylinder 10 is smaller than that of the support member top column 4.

[0032] The lower surface of the support member 3 is machined with a first cylindrical hole 7. Correspondingly, the top of the support member top column 4 is provided with a first cylinder 10 that mates with the first cylindrical hole 7. The first cylinder 10 is coaxially connected to the support member top column 4, and its diameter is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the main body of the support member top column 4.

[0033] In the assembled state, the first cylinder 10 at the top of the support member top column 4 is precisely inserted into the first cylindrical hole 7 on the lower surface of the support member 3. On the one hand, the support member 3 is precisely positioned radially to prevent horizontal displacement or rotation within the groove 6; on the other hand, axially, this insertion structure effectively transmits the jacking force borne by the support member top column 4 to the support member 3, while restraining any tilting tendency that may occur during the jacking process, ensuring its smooth vertical movement.

[0034] In some embodiments, reference is made to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the bottom of the lower mold 2 is provided with a groove 9, which is connected to the second cylindrical hole 8 opened at the bottom of the groove 6 on the lower mold 2, forming a continuous space for the installation and movement of the support member top column 4. The groove 9 is used to accommodate and adapt the ejection device equipped on the lower platform of the thermoforming equipment.

[0035] Considering that the actuator of the ejection device (such as a hydraulic or pneumatic ejector rod) in practical applications usually has a large structural size, the lateral profile dimension of the groove 9 is designed to be larger than the diameter of the second cylindrical hole 8 above it.

[0036] The bottom of the support member top post 4 extends into the groove 9 and connects to the actuating end of the ejector device placed therein. This allows the pushing force generated by the ejector device to be directly transmitted to the support member top post 4. When the demolding process is initiated, the ejector device moves upward, driving the support member top post 4 to rise vertically along the second cylindrical hole 8. The support member top post 4 then pushes the support member 3 located thereon, together with the already formed deep cavity thin-walled member, to smoothly move out of the groove 6 of the lower mold 2, thereby completing the demolding operation.

[0037] Example Reference Figures 1-4As shown, this embodiment provides a high-temperature anti-deformation demolding fixture and method for titanium alloy deep-cavity thin-walled components, applicable to the thermoforming process in the aerospace field. The fixture includes an upper mold 1, a lower mold 2, a support member 3, and a support member top column 4. The upper mold 1 is made of hot-work die steel, and its profile is designed according to the inner profile of the deep-cavity thin-walled component. Ventilation holes 5, each 2mm in diameter, are evenly distributed on the profile and connected to an external nitrogen source via pipelines. The lower mold 2 is fixed to the lower platform of the thermoforming equipment. A groove 6 is machined on its top, the contour of which matches the shape of the deep-cavity thin-walled component, with a depth of 150mm. The support member 3 is made of a nickel-based high-temperature alloy and is axially movable within the groove 6. Its length is designed to be 299.2mm, and its width is determined based on a similar principle. The upper surface of the support member 3 and the sidewall of the groove 6 together form the outer profile of the component, with a 0.25mm circumferential clearance between them. The top column 4 of the support component is made of heat-resistant steel, vertically penetrating the body of the lower mold 2, with a diameter of 30mm, and maintaining a radial clearance of 0.24mm between it and the second cylindrical hole 8 on the lower mold 2. The top of the top column 4 has a first cylinder 10, which inserts into the first cylindrical hole 7 on the lower surface of the support component 3 for positioning and transmitting the pushing force. A groove 9 is formed at the bottom of the lower mold 2 to accommodate the hydraulic ejector rod of the equipment's ejection device.

[0038] The demolding method includes the following steps: 1) Install the tooling on the thermoforming equipment, connect the bottom of the top column 4 of the support component to the hydraulic push rod of the equipment, and connect the vent hole 5 of the upper mold 1 to the nitrogen source.

[0039] 2) Heat the mold to 750℃ and keep it at that temperature for 30 minutes to ensure even heating.

[0040] 3) Place a 1.5mm thick TC4 titanium alloy sheet into the mold, close the mold, and press to form a deep cavity component.

[0041] 4) After forming, raise the upper mold 1 and start the ejection device at the same time to drive the support member top column 4 to rise at a speed of 5mm / s, pushing the support member 3 and the member to move up 20mm, so that the member is separated from the groove 6 of the mold surface.

[0042] 5) During the ejection process, nitrogen gas with a pressure of 0.5MPa is sprayed into the inner surface of the component through the vent 5 for 10 seconds to induce a cooling and shrinkage effect in the component, which helps it separate from the mold.

[0043] 6) The operator uses heat-insulating clamps to remove the demolded component from the support component 3.

[0044] This embodiment provides full circumferential support through support component 3, preventing the component from softening at high temperatures and deforming under its own weight; automatic separation is achieved by combining inert gas cooling, avoiding damage from manual prying; the ejection process is automated, improving operational safety and efficiency. Testing showed that the component's contour error after demolding was less than 0.1mm, with no scratches on the surface, and the mold life was significantly improved.

[0045] Although the embodiments of this application have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments and application fields described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and instructive, not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms based on the guidance of this specification and without departing from the scope of protection of the claims of this application, and these are all within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A rapid anti-deformation demolding fixture for deep-cavity thin-walled components under high-temperature conditions, characterized in that, include: The upper mold is provided with ventilation holes, which are used to spray high-pressure inert gas onto the inner surface of the formed component during the demolding process to achieve instantaneous cooling of the component. The lower mold is located directly below the upper mold, and its top has a shaped groove. A support member is axially movable and accommodated within the shaped groove. The upper surface of the support member and the sidewall of the shaped groove together define the outer surface of the deep cavity thin-walled member. A top column of the support component penetrates the lower mold body vertically, with its top end connected to the bottom of the support component, and is used to push the support component upward during demolding; Wherein, a circumferential fitting gap is provided between the outer peripheral wall of the supporting member and the inner peripheral wall of the shaped groove; The dimensions of the support member are determined by the following formula: L Z =L cj -(0.2~0.3)-2L cm ×(1+α j △t) Among them, L Z For the length or width of the supporting component; L cm It is the total thickness of both sides of the groove on the lower mold surface; L cj It is the length or width of a deep-cavity, thin-walled component at room temperature; α j It is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the mold material at the forming temperature; Δt is the difference between the forming temperature and the room temperature; The bottom of the groove of the lower mold is provided with a second cylindrical hole, and the top column of the support member passes through the second cylindrical hole with clearance fit; The gap between the top column of the supporting member and the second cylindrical hole is: L 间隙 =D×(0.5%-1%) Where D is the diameter of the top column of the supporting component.

2. The rapid anti-deformation demolding fixture for deep-cavity thin-walled components under high-temperature conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower surface of the support member is provided with a first cylindrical hole, and the top of the top column of the support member is provided with a first cylinder that mates with and is inserted into the first cylindrical hole for positioning the support member.

3. The rapid anti-deformation demolding fixture for deep-cavity thin-walled components under high-temperature conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the lower mold is provided with a groove for accommodating the ejection device of the lower platform of the thermoforming equipment.

4. A method for rapid anti-deformation demolding of a deep-cavity thin-walled component under high-temperature conditions, employing the demolding fixture as described in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: 1) Place the assembled tooling into the thermoforming equipment and connect the top column of the support component to the ejection device of the equipment; 2) Connect the vent of the upper mold to an inert gas source, heat the mold to the forming temperature and keep it warm, put in the sheet material, and close the mold to form the shape; 3) After forming, the upper mold is raised, and at the same time, the ejector device drives the support member's top column to rise, pushing the support member and the part to move upward, so that it is separated from the groove of the lower mold. 4) During the ejection process, cooling inert gas is sprayed into the inner surface of the part through the vent to cool and shrink the part to assist in demolding; 5) Remove the demolded parts.

5. The rapid anti-deformation demolding method for deep cavity thin-walled components under high temperature conditions according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sheet material is a titanium alloy sheet.

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