Mechanical Carbide Insert Block for Crack-Free Adjustable Drawing Dies

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adjustable drawing dies face issues with high material costs, fragility, and internal stresses due to brazing, leading to premature wear, tempering, and potential cracking, especially when using cemented carbide inserts for non-ferrous materials.

Innovation Solution

A mechanically connected block or abutment system using a dovetail connection, longitudinal tapering, and collar screws to securely attach a cemented carbide insert to a steel support, ensuring stable contact and preventing movement during deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If brazing is used to attach cemented carbide inserts to steel supports, then the connection strength is improved, but internal stresses and fragility increase leading to cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidfragility and cracking resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is divided into multiple independent mechanical elements: the tapered insert, the dovetail groove with lateral faces, and the collar screws. This segmentation allows each element to perform a specific function (tapered shape for axial positioning, dovetail for lateral restraint, collar screws for clamping) without requiring a monolithic brazed joint, thereby eliminating the harmful thermal stresses and cracking associated with brazing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal-bonding brazing process is replaced with a purely mechanical connection system. The tapered insert配合dovetail groove and collar screws creates a mechanical interlock that provides both connection strength and reliability, eliminating the internal stresses and fragility caused by thermal cycling and phase changes in brazed joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If brazing is used to attach cemented carbide inserts, then material costs are reduced, but tempering and hardness loss occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial costVSAvoidhardness and tempering control
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The block is segmented into a steel support and a separate cemented carbide insert that are mechanically connected. This allows the cemented carbide insert to be heat-treated to the required hardness independently, without being subjected to the tempering temperatures required for brazing. The mechanical connection preserves the high hardness and dimensional stability of the cemented carbide while eliminating the harmful thermal effects of brazing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If mechanical connection is used instead of brazing, then hardness and coating capability are maintained, but connection stability must be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardness retentionVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system combines multiple material properties: the tapered insert (cemented carbide) provides hardness and wear resistance, the dovetail groove (steel) provides structural support, and the collar screws (steel) provide clamping force. This composite approach ensures both hardness retention and connection stability through the synergistic combination of different materials and geometric features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The tapered insert features curved surfaces (tapered geometry) that work with the corresponding dovetail groove to create a stable mechanical interlock. The curved contact surfaces distribute loads evenly and prevent stress concentration, ensuring connection stability while maintaining the hardness of the cemented carbide insert.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Strength

If non-mechanical means like welding or adhesives are used, then connection strength is improved, but the system becomes less adaptable and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidadjustability and modularity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical connection system with collar screws allows for dynamic adjustment and disassembly. The screws can be loosened to remove or replace inserts, and tightened to secure them, providing adaptability that welding or permanent adhesives cannot offer. This dynamic connection maintains strength while enabling maintenance and reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4484028B1Optionally coatable mechanically connected block or abutment for an adjustable drawing die
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SCLEROS SPA
  • EP4484028B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4484028B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4484028B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a block for an adjustable drawing die of the type with blocks, or to an abutment for an adjustable drawing die of the type with abutments and saddles, in which the cemented carbide insert is connected to the respective steel support by means of an exclusively mechanical connection between the two components, without non-mechanical connection means such as welding or adhesives. The connection between the steel support (2) and the cemented carbide insert (3) consists of: a) a longitudinal dovetail between the longitudinal lateral faces (6) of the insert (3) and the longitudinal lateral faces (7) of the housing (5), these faces being inclined towards the longitudinal axis; b) a longitudinal tapering of the insert (3) and of the housing (5) in the direction of their length and towards their front end, and c) a screw coupling between the rear closing element (4) and the support (2). The invention also relates to the process for producing a block or an abutment according to the invention.