The invention relates to steel-rule cutting dies having a die block with at least one kerf configured to receive a corresponding steel-rule intended to be partially inserted into the kerf. The die block also has at least one element having magnetic properties, such as for instance a magnet, located or embedded in proximity to each kerf for providing a magnetic field that retains the steel-rule when the steel-rule is received into the corresponding kerf. The presence of the magnetic element(s) in proximity to the kerf(s) allows maintaining the corresponding rule(s) in position within its kerf even if the kerf is cut “loosely”. The corresponding rule may be quickly and easily inserted and accurately maintained even if the die block expand or retract under atmospheric variations. Among other advantages, the invention allows better stability of the cutting-die, faster leveling on press, and increased the number of re-knifing and longer run-time.

Applying padding material around shaped cutting blades includes: receiving a blade shape diagram and a rule of blade; bending the rule of blade according to the blade shape diagram to produce the shaped cutting blades; and applying the padding material around the shaped cutting blades using the blade shape diagram to produce a padded shaped cutting blade, wherein the padding material provides a spring action to quickly detach the shaped cutting blades from a plate matter.

A hybrid stamping system for forming a work-piece includes a stamping press. The press includes first and second dies that have respective first and second die bases formed from a first material. The system also includes first and second inlays. Each inlay is formed from a second material and has opposing die and work-piece sides. The second material hardness is greater than the first material hardness. The die side of the first inlay is cast into the first base and the work-piece side of the first inlay is contoured to form one side of the work-piece. The die side of the second inlay is cast into the second base and the work-piece side of the second inlay is contoured to form another side of the work-piece. The first and second dies are mounted in the press opposite one another to form the work-piece between the first and second inlays.

A system for forming a metal strip into a die having a predetermined shape through a series of forming operations is described herein. The system includes a base configured to support the metal strip as the metal strip undergoes the series of forming operations; a feeding device configured to advance the metal strip between each forming operation of the series of forming operations and grip the metal strip during each forming operation; a bending device configured to bend a portion of the metal strip extending from the feeding device as one of the series of forming operations; a forming head configured to house a pair of forming tools and provide features to the portion of the metal strip extending from the feeding device as one of the series of forming operations using the one or more forming tools; a robotic arm configured to selectively provide the one or more forming tools to the forming head; and a computing unit in communication with the robotic arm and configured to transmit a control signal to cause the robotic arm to retrieve the pair of forming tools and provide the pair of forming tools to the forming head.

The invention relates to steel-rule cutting dies having a die block with at least one kerf configured to receive a corresponding steel-rule intended to be partially inserted into the kerf. The die block also has at least one element having magnetic properties, such as for instance a magnet, located or embedded in proximity to each kerf for providing a magnetic field that retains the steel-rule when the steel-rule is received into the corresponding kerf. The presence of the magnetic element(s) in proximity to the kerf(s) allows maintaining the corresponding rule(s) in position within its kerf even if the kerf is cut “loosely”. The corresponding rule may be quickly and easily inserted and accurately maintained even if the die block expand or retract under atmospheric variations. Among other advantages, the invention allows better stability of the cutting-die, faster leveling on press, and increased the number of re-knifing and longer run-time.

A mold used for blanking a metal plate to shape a blank to be drawn. The mold has a surface treatment film and a top face to be brought into contact with the metal plate and a peripheral end face communicated indirectly with the top face. At least the top face is coated with the surface treatment film.

A system for forming a metal strip into a die having a predetermined shape through a series of forming operations is described herein. The system includes a base configured to support the metal strip as the metal strip undergoes the series of forming operations; a feeding device configured to advance the metal strip between each forming operation of the series of forming operations and grip the metal strip during each forming operation; a bending device configured to bend a portion of the metal strip extending from the feeding device as one of the series of forming operations; a forming head configured to house a pair of forming tools and provide features to the portion of the metal strip extending from the feeding device as one of the series of forming operations using the one or more forming tools; a robotic arm configured to selectively provide the one or more forming tools to the forming head; and a computing unit in communication with the robotic arm and configured to transmit a control signal to cause the robotic arm to retrieve the pair of forming tools and provide the pair of forming tools to the forming head.

A method and apparatus which allow cutting-creasing rules (1) for die-cutters to be obtained from sections of cutting rules and sections of creasing rules are described. In particular, the method comprises: ⋅ (a) from a cutting rule (13) for die-cutters having height H, separating sections (2′, 2″, 2′″) provided with a cutting edge (4) and provided with coupling means (9, 10) to obtain an interlocked coupling (8) with other sections (3′, 3″, 3′″) of a creasing rule (14), ⋅ (b) from a creasing rule (14) for die-cutters having height H′, separating sections (3′, 3″, 3′″) provided with a creasing profile (5) and provided with coupling means (11, 12) to obtain an interlocked coupling (8) with other sections (2′, 2″, 2′″) of a cutting rule (13) ⋅ (c) coupling in succession the sections (2′, 2″, 2′″) of the cutting rule (13) to the sections (3′, 3″, 3′″) of the creasing rule (14) until the cutting-creasing rule (1) is obtained, the steps (a) and (b) are not carried out by tools different from each other for the cutting rule (13) and the creasing rule (14), but by the same shearing tool.

A blade cutting device includes a material accommodation section having a plurality of accommodation chambers for accommodating the band-shaped materials used to form blades, in such a manner as to be sorted by type; a band-shaped material machining section having a feed unit for feeding a band-shaped material pulled out from a predetermined accommodation chamber and a cutting unit for cutting the band-shaped material into a predetermined length for forming blades; and a control section for causing the material accommodation section to move so as to locate the predetermined accommodation chamber at a position facing the band-shaped material machining section.

A method for performing a design rule check of a computer aided design (CAD) file corresponding to a geometry of a tool for use in a process for making an article from a starting material. Design rules defined to avoid a geometry of the tool documented as causing an inefficiency in a non-printing or non-platemaking operation of the process are stored in a computer. A design rule checking (DRC) module of the computer processes the CAD file relative to the stored design rules, identifies violations, automatically suggests design changes responsive to each violation, receives a user input responsive to suggested design changes, and modifies the CAD file in response to the user input. Non-transitory computer readable media containing code for implementing the method and related CAD systems are also described.