A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a pair of coacting platens, a load bearing structural member, a force applicator, and a deformation sensor. The pair of coacting platens and respective dies are configured to mate on opposed surfaces of a heated sheet of thermoformable material to form articles. The load bearing structural member is configured to carry the coacting platens and the dies in complementary closed relationship about the sheet during an article forming operation. The force applicator is carried by the structural member and configured to impart a forming load between the pair of opposed dies and platens and across the structural member during a forming operation. The deformation sensor is configured to span a first location and a second location on the structural member to detect deformation indicative of separation between the dies resulting from deformation. A method is also provided.

A servo press machine includes a display unit that displays a strip-shaped region for setting a motion of a slide and an operation unit that receives an input operation. A range extending from an upper end of the strip-shaped region to a lower end thereof corresponds to a movement range of the slide in a linear movement, and the strip-shaped region is formed of a plurality of slide operation regions that are consecutive in a direction in which the strip-shaped region extends. Each of the slide operation regions can set a speed of the slide in response to the input operation received by the operation unit, and a boundary between adjacent two of slide operation regions can move along the direction in which the strip-shaped region extends in response to the input operation received by the operation unit.

A clamshell die cutting press (10) that can transition between an opening of three inches and 0.937 and anywhere in between without the requirement of filler plates. This is accomplished by attaching the connecting rod or arm (20) that extends between the fixed platen (14) and the movable platen (16) to the fixed platen through an eccentric bevel gear (26). The bevel gear (26) is driven by an electric motor (28) which allows the adjustment to be made with a push of a button, and by moving the bridge rocker plates (34 and 36) and bridge cam stands using linear slides and servo motors.

A clamshell die cutting press (10) that can transition between an opening of three inches and 0.937 and anywhere in between without the requirement of filler plates. This is accomplished by attaching the connecting rod or arm (20) that extends between the fixed platen (14) and the movable platen (16) to the fixed platen through an eccentric bevel gear (26). The bevel gear (26) is driven by an electric motor (28) which allows the adjustment to be made with a push of a button, and by moving the bridge rocker plates (34 and 36) and bridge cam stands using linear slides and servo motors.

An agricultural baler has a plunger for compressing harvested material to a bale in a chamber, a crank mechanism connected to the plunger for the purpose of driving the plunger, wherein the crank mechanism comprises at least one first crank and at least one second crank, a drive mechanism for driving the first crank and the second crank, wherein the drive mechanism is configured such that, when the first and second crank are driven, the first crank and the second crank rotate in opposite directions.

A press system includes: a press device configured to perform press working on a workpiece; a detection device configured to detect a press load applied for the press working by the press device; a number acquisition device configured to acquire a number of cycles of press loading, for each section of a plurality of sections into which a press loading region over a total length of a slide stroke is divided; a stress calculation device configured to calculate a stress applied to the press device, the stress corresponding to the press load for each section of the press loading region; and a degree-of-fatigue calculation device configured to calculate a degree of fatigue of the press device, based on respective stresses applied to the press device and respective numbers of cycles of press loading, for the plurality of sections of the press loading region.

A press system includes: a press device configured to perform press working on a workpiece; a detection device configured to detect a press load applied for the press working by the press device; a number acquisition device configured to acquire a number of cycles of press loading, for each section of a plurality of sections into which a press loading region over a total length of a slide stroke is divided; a stress calculation device configured to calculate a stress applied to the press device, the stress corresponding to the press load for each section of the press loading region; and a degree-of-fatigue calculation device configured to calculate a degree of fatigue of the press device, based on respective stresses applied to the press device and respective numbers of cycles of press loading, for the plurality of sections of the press loading region.

A draw press includes a carriage moveable toward a work piece and an upper die movably secured to the carriage. The upper die is movable with respect to the carriage to draw the work piece. A method for drawing a metal part is also disclosed.

A draw press includes a carriage moveable toward a work piece and an upper die movably secured to the carriage. The upper die is movable with respect to the carriage to draw the work piece. A method for drawing a metal part is also disclosed.

An actuator assembly for a redraw sleeve that operates independently of the ram drive mechanism is provided. The actuator assembly utilizes a servomotor. The servomotor is structured to provide its output shaft with a variable rotation speed so as to accommodate the need for the redraw sleeve to be in selected locations at specific times.