Apparatus and associated methodology contemplating a portable sheet metal folding apparatus that folds a sheet metal panel profile into a different predetermined shape, the profile having straight elements joined together by arcs. The apparatus has consecutive roller die sets configured to perform a series of folds on a first element of the profile toward a second element of the profile. Each roller die set has opposing roller dies operably contacting only the first and second elements, not contacting any arc. The opposing roller dies are arranged to define a minimal gap between them equal to or more than the radius of the arc joining the first and second elements together. The gap provides a material relief space that is sized to clearingly permit the arc to positionally shift during folding to relieve stress and strain.

A method for producing a press-formed product that includes a pair of flat sections and a bend section that connects the flat sections, in which a bending radius of the bend section is R.sub.2 and an interior angle formed by the pair of flat sections is θ.sub.2, includes the steps bellow. In the first forming step, an intermediate formed product including a bend section in which a bending radius is R.sub.1 and an interior angle is θ.sub.1 is formed. In the second forming step, a portion of a bend section of the intermediate formed product is formed into the bend section of the press-formed product. R.sub.1, θ.sub.1, R.sub.2 and θ.sub.2 satisfy the conditions of Formulae (1) to (3) below:

1.05<A.sub.1/A.sub.2   (1);

1.0<R.sub.1/R.sub.2   (2);

A.sub.1/A.sub.2<6.0/(R.sub.1/R.sub.2)   (3), where, A.sub.1, A.sub.2 represents the supplementary angle of the interior angle θ.sub.1, θ.sub.2, respectively.

A die including a first support having a plurality of panels with adjacent ones of the panels defining a gap therebetween, and a second support having a plurality of panels with adjacent ones of the panels defining a gap therebetween. The first and second supports are configured to be interleaved by positioning at least one panel of each support within one of the gaps of the other support. The first and second supports are positionable in an interleaved configuration in a plurality of different positions relative to each other. The die further includes a coupling component configured to engage at least one of the supports to couple the at least one support to an underlying surface when the first and second supports are in one of the plurality of different positions.

Presented are metalworking systems for forming metallic workpieces, methods for making such workpieces and methods for operating such systems, and battery cell tabs bent by a multistage plunger press. A metalworking system includes a plunger fixture that mounts adjacent metallic workpieces, and a plunger head movably mounted to the plunger fixture to move between activated and deactivated positions. A first row of plunger fingers is mounted to the plunger head and moves in one direction to press against and bend one metallic workpiece a predefined bend angle. Likewise, a second row of plunger fingers is mounted to the plunger head and moves in an opposite direction to press against and bend another metallic workpiece another predefined bend angle. The plunger head then moves to the activated position, in tandem with the plunger fingers bending the metallic workpieces, to cause the plunger fingers to bend the workpieces additional respective bend angles.

A system (100) for a sheet metalworking is disclosed. The system (100) comprising a punch (1) connectable to a press (P), wherein the punch (1) is configured with a first electrical terminal (2). A die (3) configured with a die surface (DS), to support sheet metal (SM). A support member (4) movably disposed in the die (1), the support member (4) is provided with a second electrical terminal (5). The support member (4) and the punch (1) contacts a working portion (B) of the sheet metal (SM) at an axis (A-A) to supply electric current to a localized region (LR) of the working portion (B) for sheet metalworking.

A press brake machine configured to bend a workpiece. The machine includes an upper beam configured to hold an upper tool assembly that includes an upper rotary tool configured to hold an upper punch and an upper die. The machine also includes a lower beam configured to hold a lower tool assembly that includes a lower rotary tool configured to hold lower punch and a lower die. The upper rotary tool assembly is configured to rotate the upper punch and the upper die and the lower rotary tool assembly is configured to rotate the lower punch and the lower die. The upper rotary tool assembly is configured to position to the upper punch downwards to a first upper rotary tool position when the lower rotary tool assembly positions the lower die upwards to a first lower rotary tool position such that the upper punch.

A press brake assembly including a crane system and press brake machine for processing a workpiece. The crane system having a workpiece handling mechanism configured to pick and store the workpiece. The crane system allows the crane to move along a plane via longitudinal and lateral rails. The crane also includes multiple swivel points to allow mobility to handle workpieces efficiently. The control system of the press brake machine may control the crane, allowing a single control system to control the press brake assembly.

A determination part determines whether or not a shadow of an upper mold is expanded to a photodiode by laser beam projected to a light receiver side based on a light receiving state of a photodiode positioned in a vicinity of the upper mold. When it is determined that the shadow of the upper mold is expanded to the photodiode positioned in the nearest vicinity of the upper mold, the invalidation unit invalidates the photodiode. A detection unit detects a presence or absence of a foreign body between the upper mold and a lower mold based on light receiving states of the effective plurality of photodiodes during a lowering operation of an upper table.

In a bending system and a method for using the same, the bending system includes a bending robot provided between a press brake and a predetermined setting area that is arranged in front of the press brake to assist in bending a workpiece. The bending robot includes a robot hand for holding the workpiece on a pallet that is set in the predetermined setting area. An image pickup unit, which picks up an image of the workpiece on the pallet from an oblique upper direction, is provided above and anterior to the predetermined setting area (SA). A first illumination unit, which illuminates an image pickup area of the image pickup unit, is erected on a left front side of the predetermined setting area. A second illumination stand, which illuminates the image pickup area of the image pickup unit, is erected on a right front side of the predetermined setting area.

The invention relates to a lower tool (1) having a longitudinal-offset measuring device (2), which lower tool (1) is part of a bending tool arrangement for use in a bending press. The lower tool (1) has a tool body (3) having a longitudinal extension (4), in which longitudinal extension (4) a bending recess (5) is provided. The bending recess (5) extends from an upper flat side (6) of the tool body (3) into the latter and is formed at least by two contact surfaces (7). The transition from the upper flat side (6) into the bending recess (5) forms a contact edge (8), which contact edge (8) forms a contact line (9) in the longitudinal extension (4). A sensor (10) for determining a longitudinal offset (18) is arranged in the region of the contact line (9), wherein a sensing portion (11) of the sensor (10) is oriented in the direction of a metal sheet (16) to be bent.