A machine for machining, such as cutting and/or forming, planar workpieces has an upper tool and a lower tool that are movable toward each other to machine a workpiece arranged therebetween. The upper tool includes at least one cutting tool having at least one cutting edge and a clamping shaft. The lower tool includes a main body having a support surface for the workpiece. The support surface has an opening associated with an inner counter cutting edge. The lower tool has a positioning axis and at least one outer counter cutting edge provided outside of the opening and associated with the support surface. The outer counter cutting edge is aligned with an outer face of the support surface. A distance of the outer counter cutting edge from the position axis and a distance of the inner counter cutting edge from the position axis deviate from each other.

A multi-cavity mould (1) for a thermoforming machine used in the process of high-volume, continuous thermoforming of a plurality of thin-gauge plastic products (2) from a preheated thin-gauge thermoplastic sheet (3) comprising an upper tool (11) and a lower tool (12) arranged in a cooperating manner; the lower tool (12) comprising a plurality of cavities (8) in which cavity moulds (8) are placed and a plurality of base plates (91) from which a plurality of supporting blocks (92) extend perpendicularly over a predetermined total height (a), situated between adjacent cavities (8), each of said supporting block (92) has a stepped profile comprising three substantially rectangular shaped zones (92a, 92b, 92c) and a fourth substantially isosceles trapezoid shaped zone (92d) in a vertical cross section, having a common symmetry axis.

A tool for machining planar workpieces, comprising an upper tool having a clamping shaft and an upper main body, at least one tool body on the upper main body opposite the clamping shaft, the tool body having a cutting edge, a lower tool having a lower main body with a rest surface for the workpiece and a positioning axis oriented perpendicular to the rest surface, at least one counter tool body on the lower main body that has a counter cutting edge that is a closed contour, wherein the cutting edge of the at least one tool body has a cutting contour that corresponds to the closed contour of the at least one counter tool body, wherein at least one group of at least two counter tool bodies on the lower tool that are associatable with the closed contour of the least one tool body.

An improvement to a lead forming system that provides quick changeover without complete disassembly. By removing a pair of fasteners securing a pair of die inserts, a spring pack in an upper die unit can be freely rotated and interchanged or modified. The spring pack has a plurality of chamfers that allow the spring pack to rotate within the die pack until a narrower side is presented for removal. Straightforward access to the cutting units is afforded when the spring pack is removed. Risk of damage to various components of the lead forming system is minimized and the precision and accuracy of the new setup is increased because the system was minimally disassembled. A method for removing the spring pack in the upper die unit is fully disclosed.

The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a method of forming an opening on a panel, the method including pressing in a first direction on the panel to form a protrusion with a tip portion, and cutting the protrusion with a force in a second direction to remove the tip portion to form the opening on the panel, the second direction being different from the first direction. The first direction may be a direction of gravity plus and minus up to 15 degrees. The second direction may be transverse to the first direction with an angle differential there-between of 75 to 105 degrees.

A thermoform packaging machine comprising, as work stations, a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a packaging film, at least one sealing station for sealing the troughs with a cover film, and a cutting station as well as a feeding device for causing a feed of the packaging film. A method for using such a thermoform packaging machine wherein a controller determines for two or more work stations, prior to a process step, which required feed length each of these work stations has, the required feed length indicating the distance by which the packaging film will have to be conveyed for the next process step of the respective work station, before a feed length specification is ascertained from the required feed lengths determined and the feeding device is controlled accordingly.

A method of manufacturing a composite part comprises placing a composite material part comprising fibers and a thermoplastic resin on a matrix; moving a presser towards the matrix in order to thermo-stamp the part; and making at least one orifice in the part by moving at least one punch through the part and at least one compactor pushing back the material of the part moved by the punch and forming a shoulder around the orifice or one of the orifices. This method also comprises a step of placing a metal insert on the shoulder of the or at least one of the orifices.

A method of manufacturing a hole in a component consisting of a composite material, such as a fiber or fabric reinforced plastic part, wherein the component, having first and second oppositely disposed sides, is placed with its first side on a support having an iris diaphragm. A tip which diverges in the axial direction is pressed from the second side of the component through the component, which optionally has a pre-piercing, for formation of the hole or for enlargement of the pre-piercing. The iris diaphragm has a smaller starting opening which receives a narrower region of the tip and opens into a larger opening with increasing penetration of the component by the tip, whereby the component is supported during hole formation over an as large as possible area from the first side. A piercing aid in the form of an iris diaphragm or a corresponding die button is likewise claimed.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing a notched corner board is disclosed. The method includes cutting bent board stock into fixed lengths; forming a slit in or near an end of the corner board; and bending/folding a part of the corner board between the end and the slit to create a notch or flap in the corner board. The apparatus includes one or more cutting tools configured to form a slit in or near a first end of the corner board, a support block configured to support the corner board as the slit is formed, one or more rollers configured to move the corner board towards the cutting tool(s), a frame to which the cutting tool(s), the support block, and the roller(s) are directly or indirectly attached, a motor, and a punch. The motor controls movement of the punch to form the notch in the corner board.

A device for cutting a flexible material of plastic type, laminated between two substrates and overhanging the edges of the substrates, includes a cutting tool and a pulling tool arranged upstream of the cutting tool.