Bending Machine Control for Precise Sheet Radius Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern bending machines face challenges in achieving precise bending of large metal sheets due to deviations between actual and expected material properties, leading to inaccuracies in bending radius, which can result in economic inefficiencies and waste, especially when bending to a smaller radius is required.

Innovation Solution

A control method and bending machine setup that utilizes a controller with a digital signal processor and stored data sets to adjust roller positions iteratively, accounting for material properties and geometric arrangements, allowing for precise control of bending processes in multiple passes to achieve the desired curvature with minimal waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If material properties are assumed to be known and fixed for bending calculations, then the bending process can be simplified and executed quickly, but the bending radius deviates significantly from the desired radius when actual material properties differ

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending process efficiencyVSAvoidbending radius accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurements of actual material properties (bending strength, elastic-plastic transition) before the bending process, and uses these measured values to calculate and adjust the bending machine settings in advance, ensuring both efficiency and precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where actual material properties are measured, the bending results are monitored, and the machine settings are automatically adjusted based on the difference between desired and actual bending radius, enabling continuous improvement of bending precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the bending machine is designed to correct large deviations in bending radius, then accuracy can be improved, but the machine requires excessive bending force that is not economically justifiable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending radius accuracyVSAvoidbending force requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurements and calculations to determine the exact bending machine settings needed before the actual bending process, preventing large deviations from occurring in the first place and avoiding the need for excessive corrective force

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operating parameters of the bending machine (roller positions, bending forces) based on measured material properties and desired bending radius, optimizing the bending process to achieve accurate results with minimal force

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If sheets with varying material properties are processed in small iterative steps, then waste is minimized, but the number of bending passes increases reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet wasteVSAvoidbending throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurements of material properties and calculates the optimal bending settings in advance, allowing for more aggressive bending steps that reduce the number of passes needed while still minimizing waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts bending parameters based on measured material properties, enabling optimized bending paths that reduce both waste and the number of required passes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enables accurate bending of metal sheets to a desired radius with high precision and economic efficiency by iteratively adjusting bending machine settings based on material properties, minimizing waste and ensuring consistent results across different batches of sheets.

Implementation Method 1

the limit between elastic and plastic deformation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3643418B1Bending machine and method for controlling the bending machine
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 HAUSLER HLDG AG
  • EP3643418B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3643418B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3643418B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and a correspondingly configured bending machine are described, whereby the setting of the bending machine is first calculated using a mathematical model and then corrected based on stored data sets of previous bending operations and their correction values.