Fine-Blanked Tooth Thickening for Contact Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

In fineblanking technology, the edge indentation and cutting burr issues lead to reduced contact area on functional surfaces, necessitating thicker materials and increased costs, while existing solutions either rework parts or compromise dimensional accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that partially thicken functional surfaces of fine-blanked parts using an upsetting head to increase the contact area without affecting dimensional accuracy, by clamping the blank on flat sides and applying an upsetting force horizontally to the tooth, allowing symmetrical thickening up to 30%.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If the sheet thickness is reduced to save material and reduce costs, then material utilization improves, but the edge indentation increases and functional surface contact area decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial utilizationVSAvoidedge indentation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary upsetting deformation to the blank before fine blanking cuts the tooth geometry. This pre-forming action creates a material volume in mirrored form on the feed side that compensates for the inevitable edge indentation during cutting, allowing thinner material to achieve the required functional surface contact area after cutting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If re-cutting or re-shaving is performed to eliminate edge indentation, then manufacturing precision improves, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge indentationVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of performing corrective operations after cutting (re-cutting or re-shaving), the invention performs the compensating deformation before cutting. The upsetting head creates the material compensation in advance, eliminating the need for additional machining processes and tools that would increase manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If massive forming is performed before fine blanking to compensate for edge pull-in, then manufacturing precision improves, but dimensional accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge pull-in compensationVSAvoiddimensional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies forming only to specific areas of the blank that will compensate for edge indentation in the tooth geometry, rather than massive forming of the entire blank. The upsetting head is adapted to the shape of the tooth and applies localized deformation, creating material volume only where needed while preserving the dimensional accuracy of other parts of the component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 approach enhances the contact area on functional surfaces while reducing material thickness, saving material and improving economic and dimensional accuracy of fine-blanked parts.

Implementation Method 1

upsetting the tooth by applying an upsetting force tailored to the material of the blank and the tooth shape in such a way that the force is directed horizontally to the flat sides in the core of the tooth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2508274B1Method and device for increasing the bearing area of a fine blanked workpiece with a tooth, a tooth section or the like
Publication Date: 2013.07.17 FEINTOOL INTPROP
  • EP2508274B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2508274B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2508274B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves completely cutting a blank (7) from band strips in a fine cutting stage. The blank is clamped at a flat side (FSD) between a compression plate and an ejector such that a tooth (2) of the blank is not clamped and remains accessible for a shaping operation. The tooth is compressed by subjection with compression force (PSK) such that the force is directed into a core of the tooth by a compressing head (18) horizontal to the flat side. The tooth is symmetrically thickened in a measurement of upto 30 percentage compared to an initial thickness of the blank. An independent claim is also included for a device for performing a method for increasing a bearing area of a flat fine blanked part.