摘要:
A method of forming a welded metal product from a workpiece, comprising a sheet and a counterpart to which the sheet is to be welded, consisting in the steps of: • providing: • a workpiece support having a support surface for a workpiece counterpart, • means for: • gripping opposite edges of a workpiece sheet at respective opposite edges of the workpiece support, • drawing the opposite sheet edges in a direction having a component from a counterpart on the support surface towards the support surface and • holding the opposite sheet edges in their drawn position, • a robotic device associated with the workpiece support and • a laser welding head arranged to be moved by the robotic device in at least two dimensions with respect to the workpiece support, and to maintain a welding gap from a free face of the workpiece sheet on the supported counterpart in accordance with an array welds to be formed in welding together the sheet and the counterpart; • placing a workpiece counterpart on the workpiece support; • placing a workpiece sheet on the counterpart; • gripping, drawing and holding taught the workpiece sheet by opposite edges thereof to lie against the counterpart, captivating the latter, with the free face of the workpiece sheet defining a regular surface; • setting up the combination of the workpiece support, the robotic device and the laser welding head such that the welding gap is maintained between the laser welding head and the regular surface throughout traversing of the laser welding head for forming the array of welds; • traversing the laser welding head across the workpiece sheet and making the array of laser welds, thereby welding together the sheet and the counterpart, the array being two dimensional with respect to the sheet.
摘要:
A stretch-forming machine of the type wherein a pair of opposed curving jaw assemblies grip opposite end edge portions of a metal sheet for initially stretching the metal sheet into a yield state and forming the metal sheet into a predetermined curved configuration. The pivot and the actuator cooperate to stretch the outer corners of the metal sheet while substantially minimizing elongation along the centerline of the metal sheet.
摘要:
A method of forming a compound curvature metal skin includes providing a blank defining at least a sector of a truncated cone, providing an arcuate or annular punch substantially corresponding in shape to an inner surface of the compound curvature metal skin, gripping a leading edge of a sheet metal blank between mating faces of a first blank holder on a first side of the punch, gripping a trailing edge of the blank between mating faces of a second blank holder on a second side of the punch opposite to the first side, displacing the blank holders with respect to the punch to draw the blank over the punch while permitting the blank to flow between mating surfaces of at least one of the blank holders, including displacing each of the blank holders with respect to the punch by different amounts and at different rates.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are disclosed which are suitable for use in the manufacture of two-piece metal containers. In particular, a way of making cups from metal sheet is disclosed using a combination of stretching and drawing operations. The resulting cups have the advantage of having a base thickness that is thinner relative to the ingoing gauge of the metal sheet.
摘要:
A quick change gripping apparatus for gripping a workpiece having a profile. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end. The cylindrical housing also includes an inner feature having a tapered wall. The housing also has a bottom section and a clam shell section that is hingedly connected to the bottom section. The quick change gripping apparatus also includes a first ring and a second ring, each disposed around the cylindrical housing.