Press-Forming Mold Position Control for Variable Sheet Thickness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Press-forming techniques struggle to maintain consistency in shape for products with varying sheet thicknesses, leading to deviations from the target shape due to uncontrolled mold positions during the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A method that captures the thickness of each sheet and adjusts the initial position of movable mold parts relative to the die and punch based on sheet thickness, ensuring precise control during press-forming to reduce shape deviations among press-formed products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If press-forming is performed under pre-set press conditions for all sheets in a manufacture lot, then the manufacturing process is simple and efficient, but shape deviations occur when sheet thickness varies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidshape consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mold part is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing its position to be dynamically adjusted based on sheet thickness measurements. This enables the press-forming process to adapt to varying sheet characteristics while maintaining consistent product quality, resolving the contradiction between efficient batch production and shape precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position of the mold part is changed as a variable parameter based on sheet thickness. By measuring the actual sheet thickness and adjusting the mold part position accordingly, the system maintains manufacturing precision across varying sheet characteristics without sacrificing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the first press-formed product is used to set press conditions, then setup is simple, but subsequent products with varying sheet characteristics deviate from target shape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup simplicityVSAvoidshape accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet thickness is measured in advance before press-forming, and the mold part position is predetermined based on this measurement. This preliminary action ensures that each sheet is processed with optimized parameters, maintaining shape accuracy while keeping the overall process simple and efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically adjusts the mold part position based on measured sheet thickness without requiring manual intervention or complex setup procedures. This self-adjusting capability maintains manufacturing precision while preserving ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If movable mold parts are introduced to adjust for sheet variations, then shape precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape consistencyVSAvoidmold structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mold is divided into a fixed part and a movable part, with only the necessary portion being adjustable. This segmentation allows for precise control of shape consistency while minimizing the complexity increase, as only specific mold components require adjustment mechanisms rather than the entire mold structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3912744B1Method of manufacturing press-formed product and press line
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
  • EP3912744B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3912744B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3912744B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A method of manufacturing a press-formed product includes: capturing the sheet thickness of a sheet B; and using a die 6, a punch 7, and a movable mold part capable of moving relative to both the die 6 and punch 7 to press-form the sheet B into a press-formed product. During press-forming, the initial position of the movable mold part relative to the die 6 or punch 7 is controlled depending on the sheet thickness of the sheet B.