A flue baffle for a water heater comprises a plurality of holes along a length of the baffle and a plurality of bent blades along the length of the baffle, where each hole of the plurality of holes is adjacent to a bent blade of the plurality of bent blades. The holes are configured to permit flue gas to pass through the holes. The bent blades can have an alternating pattern where a first bent blade extends from one side of the baffle and the next bent blade extends from an opposite side of the baffle. A press tool for forming the baffle comprises a piercing tool for forming the plurality of holes and a lance and fold die for forming the bent blades.

An apparatus for forming and sealing a duct member for use in an air handling system. At least one work station accommodates a work piece, which is generally a cylindrical tube.

A forming tool includes at least one first die half where the first die half has an insert part which is designed to move a finished component out of the first die half along a direction of motion where a displacement direction of the insert part is inclined relative to the direction of motion.

A forming tool includes at least one first die half where the first die half has an insert part which is designed to move a finished component out of the first die half along a direction of motion where a displacement direction of the insert part is inclined relative to the direction of motion.

A stock ejector assembly and method for metal forming dies includes a stock ejector with a large spring and a ring-style stripper. The ring-style stripper provides a larger surface area for contacting the stock. The large compression spring is preloaded and when a load is applied, the stripper retracts and the spring pressure increases. When the dies separate, the stock ejector pushes the part off flat surfaces, separating surfaces sealed by adhesion, including, but not limited to, oil or lubricant adhesion.

A stock ejector assembly and method for metal forming dies includes a stock ejector with a large spring and a ring-style stripper. The ring-style stripper provides a larger surface area for contacting the stock. The large compression spring is preloaded and when a load is applied, the stripper retracts and the spring pressure increases. When the dies separate, the stock ejector pushes the part off flat surfaces, separating surfaces sealed by adhesion, including, but not limited to, oil or lubricant adhesion.

The invention relates to a method for producing a half-shell part with a drawing punch and a drawing die. The object of providing a method for the process-reliable and cost-effective production of highly dimensionally stable half-shell parts is achieved in that, in a single work step, the drawing punch is advanced into the drawing die, a sheet metal blank is preformed into a sheet metal raw part with at least one base section, at least one frame section and optionally a flange section, wherein during the preforming with the drawing punch a material excess is introduced either into the base section and the frame section or into the optional flange section of the sheet metal raw part, and the sheet metal raw part is finished to form a half-shell part and calibrated.

The invention relates to a method for producing a half-shell part with a drawing punch and a drawing die. The object of providing a method for the process-reliable and cost-effective production of highly dimensionally stable half-shell parts is achieved in that, in a single work step, the drawing punch is advanced into the drawing die, a sheet metal blank is preformed into a sheet metal raw part with at least one base section, at least one frame section and optionally a flange section, wherein during the preforming with the drawing punch a material excess is introduced either into the base section and the frame section or into the optional flange section of the sheet metal raw part, and the sheet metal raw part is finished to form a half-shell part and calibrated.

A computer-implemented method for simulating and optimising a process of forming and assembling parts comprises simulating a forming process (2) by a forming simulation (20), thereby generating a sprung back part simulation model (30) corresponding to a reference geometry (10) of the at least one formed part (3); simulating an assembly process (4) by an assembly simulation (40), based on the sprung back part simulation model (30) of the at least one formed part (3), and generating an assembled sprung back part simulated model (50).

Therein, if the geometry of the assembled sprung back part simulated model (50) does not match the reference geometry (10), a compensated sprung back part geometry (60) is iteratively adapted, and the assembly simulation (40) based on this is repeated until the assembled sprung back part simulated model (50) matches the reference geometry (10), resulting in an optimised compensated sprung back part geometry (60). Based on this, the design of the parts and of tools for forming the parts is determined, and the parts and tools are manufactured.

A computer-implemented method serves for simulating and analysing an assembly of two or more formed sheet metal parts. It comprises simulating a forming process of each part by an approximate simulation (20), and then performing an assembly simulation (40). In order to allow for a quick iteration over different part geometries to assess the assembly, the approximate simulation (20) comprises based on a reference geometry (10) of each part, estimating the deformation of a sheet metal blank required to attain the reference geometry (10); based on this deformation, estimating stresses within the material of the formed part; based on these stresses, estimating the shape of the formed part in which these stresses are in equilibrium, and using this shape as result (31) of the approximate simulation.