C-frame press with torque-free bearings and linear guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
C-frame presses face limitations in accuracy and wear resistance, particularly in stamping processes with narrow tolerances or high quantities, due to asymmetric bending under load, which leads to excessive wear and limited maximum pressing force, and the design's open structure restricts workpiece depth and processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The C-frame press design incorporates a press frame with first and second bending beams connected by a tension column and compression column, featuring torque-free bearings and linear guides parallel to the pressing direction, ensuring parallelism and minimizing horizontal displacements, and allows for adaptable configuration with separate drive devices for enhanced force distribution and tool compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional C-frame structure is used, then the press achieves simplicity and ease of manufacture, but the frame bends asymmetrically under load causing loss of parallelism and excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The C-frame is segmented into two separate bending beams (first and second bending beams) that are connected by tension and compression columns. This segmentation allows each beam to be independently supported by linear guides, preventing asymmetric bending and maintaining parallelism between the tool halves during pressing operations.
2Ease of operation
If the C-frame is open on three sides for accessibility, then manual insertion and automated processing are enabled, but the structure lacks rigidity leading to horizontal displacement under load
Solution Approach 1:
Linear guides are introduced as intermediary elements between the bending beams and the pressing mechanism. These guides act as mediators that constrain horizontal displacement while allowing vertical movement, thereby maintaining rigidity without compromising the three-side accessibility provided by the open C-frame structure.
3Force
If higher pressing forces are applied, then processing capability is improved, but the C-frame bends more causing excessive wear and premature breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is divided into two independently guided bending beams, each supported by its own linear guide. This segmentation distributes the loading more evenly and prevents the asymmetric bending that occurs in traditional C-frames, allowing higher pressing forces to be applied without excessive wear or premature breakage of tool elements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the workpiece depth is increased, then processing versatility is improved, but the leverage effect increases frame bending
Solution Approach 1:
Linear guides serve as intermediary support elements that prevent horizontal displacement of the bending beams. This intermediary support counteracts the leverage effect that would otherwise amplify frame bending when processing deeper workpieces, thereby maintaining frame stability while enabling increased workpiece depth capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a C-frame press with a press frame (12), a first ram device (14) and a second ram device (16) opposite the first ram device (14), wherein at least one out of the first ram device (14) and the second ram device (16) has at least one driving device (60, 64, 78, 80) and is movable relative to the other ram device (14, 16) in each case in a pressing direction (26), wherein the press frame (12) has a first bending beam (18) and a second bending beam (20), which are connected to each other by means of a tension pillar (22) and a compression pillar (24) and which, together with the tension pillar (22) and the compression pillar (24), define a frame plane (28) running parallel to the pressing direction (26), wherein the tension pillar (22) is connected to the first bending beam (18) and to the second bending beam (20) in each case by means of a torque-free mounting (34, 36) about an axis running perpendicularly to the frame plane (28), wherein the first ram device (14) and the second ram device (16) are in each case supported on the press frame (12) by means of a torque-free mounting (38, 39, 40; 42, 43, 44) about an axis running perpendicularly to the frame plane (28), and wherein the first ram device (14), in particular a first ram (37) of the first ram device (12), is guided in a linear guide (46, 48) running parallel to the pressing direction (26), and/or the second ram device (16), in particular a second ram (41) of the second ram device (16), is guided in a linear guide (46, 48) running parallel to the pressing direction (26).