A fine blanking press includes a press frame with two or more guide elements extending along a vertical axis, a press ram including a ram plate section configured to carry a fine blanking tool and two or more guide sections positioned on the two opposing side surfaces of the ram plate section. The ram plate section includes an upper surface, lower surface, and two opposing side surfaces. The two or more guide sections are structured to guide movement of the press ram relative to a press frame of the fine blanking press during a fine blanking process. The two or more guide sections extend in a vertical direction to a level that is higher than the upper surface of the ram plate section.

A fine blanking press includes a press frame with two or more guide elements extending along a vertical axis, a press ram including a ram plate section configured to carry a fine blanking tool and two or more guide sections positioned on the two opposing side surfaces of the ram plate section. The ram plate section includes an upper surface, lower surface, and two opposing side surfaces. The two or more guide sections are structured to guide movement of the press ram relative to a press frame of the fine blanking press during a fine blanking process. The two or more guide sections extend in a vertical direction to a level that is higher than the upper surface of the ram plate section.

A stamped part includes a first blank, a second blank, and a weld joining the first blank to the second blank. The weld includes opposing ends. At least one of the opposing ends of the weld is recessed from adjacent edges of the first and second blanks.

A method for optimizing production of sheet-metal parts, the production comprising cutting out and singularizing the sheet-metal parts and bending the sheet-metal parts, wherein the method includes: (A) training a neural network, which is executed on a Monte Carlo tree search framework, by means of supervised learning and self-play with reinforcement learning; (B) recording constraints for the sheet-metal parts, the constraints comprising geometric data of the sheet-metal parts; (C) creating an optimized production schedule by way of the neural network; and (D) outputting the production schedule.

A method for optimizing production of sheet-metal parts, the production comprising cutting out and singularizing the sheet-metal parts and bending the sheet-metal parts, wherein the method includes: (A) training a neural network, which is executed on a Monte Carlo tree search framework, by means of supervised learning and self-play with reinforcement learning; (B) recording constraints for the sheet-metal parts, the constraints comprising geometric data of the sheet-metal parts; (C) creating an optimized production schedule by way of the neural network; and (D) outputting the production schedule.

A punching tool to make holes in a part made of a sheet metal or a multi-layer assembly of sheet metals, for example a part for the body of a vehicle. The punching tool includes a punch holder holding a one-piece cutting punch and a punch die arranged in front of the punch holder, the punch holder being designed to move the punch toward the die from a rest position to a work position in which the cutting punch cuts out a hole in the part placed between the punch holder and the die. The cutting punch is removably housed in a cavity formed in the punch holder so that, when the punch holder withdraws from the work position to the rest position, the cutting punch separates from the punch holder and remains in the hole pierced in the part.

A punching tool to make holes in a part made of a sheet metal or a multi-layer assembly of sheet metals, for example a part for the body of a vehicle. The punching tool includes a punch holder holding a one-piece cutting punch and a punch die arranged in front of the punch holder, the punch holder being designed to move the punch toward the die from a rest position to a work position in which the cutting punch cuts out a hole in the part placed between the punch holder and the die. The cutting punch is removably housed in a cavity formed in the punch holder so that, when the punch holder withdraws from the work position to the rest position, the cutting punch separates from the punch holder and remains in the hole pierced in the part.

A metal member manufacturing method according to one form of this disclosure is a method of manufacturing a metal member that is thinner at some portions than at other portions. The method includes a formation step of pressing one surface of surfaces of a metal workpiece that are perpendicular to a thickness direction with a press-working die so as to form a raised portion in the other surface, and a cutting step of moving a cutting blade along the other surface to cut off the raised portion by shaving. In the formation step, the raised portion is formed such that the area of a cross-section of the raised portion that is parallel to a moving direction of the cutting blade and perpendicular to the other surface decreases toward an end of the raised portion on a rear side in the moving direction of the cutting blade.

A metal member manufacturing method according to one form of this disclosure is a method of manufacturing a metal member that is thinner at some portions than at other portions. The method includes a formation step of pressing one surface of surfaces of a metal workpiece that are perpendicular to a thickness direction with a press-working die so as to form a raised portion in the other surface, and a cutting step of moving a cutting blade along the other surface to cut off the raised portion by shaving. In the formation step, the raised portion is formed such that the area of a cross-section of the raised portion that is parallel to a moving direction of the cutting blade and perpendicular to the other surface decreases toward an end of the raised portion on a rear side in the moving direction of the cutting blade.

A method for manufacturing an architectural panel and an architectural panel made by the method. The architectural panel may be formed from metal, and the method may start with the processing of a flat metal sheet. The method may include punching holes in a particular pattern into the flat metal sheet, bending the flat metal sheet into a particular shape to form a panel that can be hung from an overhead grid or the like, and printing a desired printing pattern onto the panel. The method may also include a step of coating the panel with a powder coating or a liquid-applied paint finish prior to the printing step. The coating step may occur after the punching step and before the printing step.