Die Former With Interlocking Pegs For Component Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hot creep forming or superplastic forming processes, components like turbine blades often experience misalignment and positional inaccuracies due to initial rough shapes not fitting accurately within the die former, leading to complex repositioning requirements and potential errors in the final formed shape.
Innovation Solution
The die former incorporates pegs or teeth on the lower and upper die parts that interlock to create a precise peripheral barrier, ensuring consistent component positioning without the need for repositioning during the forming process, using alternating pegs to constrain and locate the component edges, thereby maintaining accurate alignment and shape formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the component is placed in the die former without precise initial positioning, then the rough formed shape can be accommodated, but misalignment and positional inaccuracies occur during forming
Solution Approach 1:
The component itself serves as the positioning reference through its root geometry. The root portion of the component engages with the root stop and root recess features in the die former, allowing the component to self-locate without requiring external positioning fixtures or complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The root stop and root recess features act as intermediary elements between the component and the die former. These features mediate the positioning relationship by providing a standardized interface that ensures accurate alignment of the component within the die former during the forming process.
2Manufacturing precision
If the component position is adjusted manually during forming, then alignment can be improved, but operator intervention increases and errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The die former is pre-configured with root stops, root recesses, and peripheral edge features that automatically position the component correctly before the forming process begins. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for manual adjustment during forming, as the component is already in the correct position when loading is applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The component automatically maintains its correct position through the mechanical constraints provided by the root stop, root recess, and peripheral edge features. The system serves itself by maintaining positioning accuracy without requiring external operator intervention or monitoring during the forming process.
3Device complexity
If the die former uses simple positioning features, then the device complexity is reduced, but component alignment and edge positioning become inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into distinct functional features: root stop features for axial positioning, root recess features for radial positioning, and peripheral edge features for edge alignment. Each segment performs a specific positioning function, and together they provide comprehensive and accurate component positioning without requiring a single complex positioning mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
Forming processes such as hot creep forming or superplastic deformation require a die former. This die former comprises a lower die and an upper die within which an initial roughly shaped component is placed and then shaped by downward pressure between the die parts. Previous arrangements have included a simple stop to engage edges of the component to define position. In use, due to the nature of the forming process, movement of the component can occur, and in such circumstances it may be necessary for the operator to adjust the position of the component during the forming process. By utilising pegs about the periphery at least of leading and trailing edges of a component a better edge definition is created, thereby reducing the requirement for interim positioning of the component in use.