Manufacturing a hard-metal pressed article

Abstract

Manufacturing a hard-metal pressed article includes providing a multi-part die, feeding at least one frontal mold part, feeding at least one transverse mold and locking the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part to define a cavity for the article. Feed directions of the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part are inclined. The at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part define surfaces of the article. The resulting cavity includes at least one opening through which a punch is insertable. Next, a filling shoe is fed above an opening of the cavity and fills the cavity with a powder, and the powder is compressed with at least one punch. The feeding of the transverse mold part takes place along a feed direction that is parallel to the main pressing direction.

Claims

1. A method for near-net-shape manufacture of a hard-metal pressed article, the method comprising: feeding at least one frontal mold part that is movable in a first plane, comprising feeding a first frontal mold part and a second frontal mold part of a multi-part die, feeding at least one transverse mold part that is movable in a second plane, comprising feeding an upper transverse mold part and a lower transverse mold part, providing a locking device for securing the transverse mold parts and frontal mold parts in a closed position to form a peripheral contour of a hard-metal pressed article, the locking device laterally securing the upper transverse mold part and the lower transverse mold part, and the first frontal mold part and the second frontal mold part, and locking the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part with the locking device to define a cavity which defines the shape of the hard-metal pressed article, wherein feed directions of the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part are inclined to one another, wherein the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part define surfaces of the hard-metal pressed article, and wherein the cavity comprises at least one opening through which a punch is insertable, and wherein the at least one opening is defined by the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part, feeding a filling shoe above the at least one opening in the cavity and filling the cavity with a hard-metal powder, and compressing the hard-metal powder with at least one punch that is movable parallel to a main pressing direction, the step of compressing the hard metal powder comprising feeding an upper punch and a lower punch to form the hard-metal pressed article, wherein the at least one transverse mold part is fed along a feed direction that is parallel to the main pressing direction.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one frontal mold part is fed in a horizontal plane, wherein the at least one transverse mold part is fed in a vertical plane, and wherein the feed directions of the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part are oriented perpendicular to each other.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one frontal mold part is fed laterally and provided with a frontal shaping portion defining a first portion of the shape of the hard-metal pressed article, and wherein the at least one transverse mold part is fed vertically and provided with a lateral shaping portion defining a second portion of the shape of the hard-metal pressed article.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one punch is fed vertically and provided with a frontal shaping portion that defines a portion of the shape of the hard-metal pressed article.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper punch and the upper transverse mold part are associated with a first side, wherein the lower punch and the lower transverse mold part are associated with a second side, wherein the upper punch and the upper transverse mold part are fed at least partially via common guide elements, and wherein the lower punch and the lower transverse mold part are fed at least partially via common guide elements.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a demolding step after the step of compressing the hard-metal powder, including opening the multi-part die, comprising extending the at least one frontal mold part, extending the at least one transverse mold part, and extending the at least one punch, wherein the at least one transverse mold part is moved parallel to the main pressing direction to release at least a portion of the hard-metal pressed article.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of feeding a filling shoe comprises laterally feeding the filling shoe to an upper opening of the cavity, wherein the filling shoe is guided into a clearance space provided by the upper punch that is spaced from the cavity.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device secures the transverse mold parts and frontal mold parts by encircling the transverse mold parts and frontal mold parts.

9. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper punch and the lower transverse mold part together define a first cutting edge, and wherein the lower punch and the upper transverse mold part together define a second cutting edge.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first cutting edge is associated with a first rake face and a first relief face, wherein the second cutting edge is associated with a second rake face and a second relief face, and wherein the first rake face is formed by the upper punch, the second rake face by the lower punch, the first relief face by the lower transverse mold part, and the second relief face by the upper transverse mold part.

11. A method for the manufacture of a hard-metal cutting tool, comprising: manufacturing a hard-metal pressed article in accordance with the method as claimed in claim 1, transferring the article from a pressing plant to a sintering plant, and sintering the hard metal pressed article to produce the hard-metal cutting tool.

12. A method for near-net-shape manufacture of a hard-metal pressed article comprising: feeding at least one frontal mold part that is movable in a horizontal plane, comprising feeding a first frontal mold part and a second frontal mold part of a multi-part die, feeding at least one transverse mold part that is movable in a vertical plane, comprising feeding an upper transverse mold part and a lower transverse mold part, providing a locking device for securing the transverse mold parts and frontal mold parts in a closed position to form a peripheral contour of a hard-metal pressed article, the locking device laterally securing the upper transverse mold part and the lower transverse mold part, and the first frontal mold part and the second frontal mold part, and locking the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part with the locking device to define a cavity which defines the shape of the hard-metal pressed article, wherein feed directions of the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part are perpendicular to one another, wherein the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part define surfaces of the hard-metal pressed article, and wherein the cavity comprises at least one opening through which a punch is insertable; and wherein the at least one opening is defined by the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part feeding a filling shoe above the at least one opening in the cavity and filling the cavity with a hard-metal powder, and compressing the hard-metal powder with at least one punch that is movable parallel to a main pressing direction, the step of compressing the hard-metal powder comprising feeding an upper punch and a lower punch to form the hard-metal pressed article, each having a vertical reed direction, wherein the at least one transverse mold part is fed along a feed direction that is parallel to the main pressing direction.

13. A method for the manufacture of a hard-metal pressed blank for indexable, cutters that are arranged as two-edge cutters comprising two opposite edges, the method comprising: feeding at least one frontal mold part that is movable in a horizontal plane, comprising feeding a first frontal mold part and a second frontal mold part of a multi-part die, feeding at least one transverse mold part that is movable in a vertical plane, comprising feeding an upper transverse mold part and a lower transverse mold part, providing a locking device for securing the transverse mold parts and frontal mold parts in a closed position to form a peripheral contour of a hard-metal pressed blank, wherein the locking device laterally encloses the upper transverse mold part, the lower transverse mold part, the first frontal mold part, and the second frontal mold part, and locking the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part with the locking device to define a cavity which defines the shape of the hard-metal pressed blank, wherein feed directions of the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part are perpendicular to one another, wherein the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part define surfaces of the hard-metal pressed blank, and wherein the cavity comprises at least one opening through which a punch is insertable, feeding a filling shoe above the at least one opening in the cavity and filling the cavity with a hard-metal powder, and compressing the hard-metal powder with at least one punch that is movable parallel to a main pressing direction, the step of compressing the hard-metal powder comprising feeding an upper punch and a lower punch, each having a vertical feed direction to form the hard-metal pressed blank, wherein the at least one transverse mold part is fed along a feed direction that is parallel to the main pressing direction, and wherein the upper punch and the lower transverse mold part together define a first cutting edge, and wherein the lower punch and the upper transverse mold part together define a second cutting edge of the hard-metal pressed blank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the disclosure are disclosed by the following description of a plurality of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hard-metal cutting tool which can be produced according to at least some aspects of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a pressing device for hard-metal pressed articles, in an exploded state;

(7) FIG. 6 is another view of the arrangement according to FIG. 5 in a filling configuration;

(8) FIG. 7 is a further view of the arrangement according to FIG. 6, wherein a filling shoe is placed over an opening of a cavity;

(9) FIG. 8 is a further view of the design according to FIGS. 5 to 7, where a die is closed, and wherein punches are retracted for pressing;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective sectional view of the arrangement according to FIG. 8, wherein the punches of the device and the formed pressed article are not cut for illustrative reasons, and wherein the punches and mold parts of the device are slightly extended for better representability;

(11) FIG. 10 is an additional sectional view of the design according to FIGS. 8 and 9 in an orientation deviating from that shown in FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the illustration according to FIG. 10 to elucidate the cavity;

(13) FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of a device for the manufacture of a pressed article, which is based on the view according to FIG. 9;

(14) FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the arrangement according to FIG. 12 to elucidate a cavity, wherein the pressed article is not shown in FIG. 13 for illustrative reasons; and

(15) FIG. 14 is a schematic, greatly simplified, partial cross-sectional top view of an embodiment of a device for the manufacture of pressed articles, for elucidating a locking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(16) With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, an exemplary embodiment of a pressed article 10 (also referred to as pellet or green article) is illustrated, which can be used for the powder metallurgical manufacture of a hard-metal tool, for instance a cutting insert. The pressed article 10 can be produced without post-processing or with little post-processing by means of powder pressing. However, this requires a specific design of a device and/or a specific method for the manufacture of the pressed article.

(17) The pressed article 10 serves primarily as an illustrative example for a large number and variety of other pressed articles, the manufacture of which can be performed in accordance with aspects described herein, relating to the device and/or the method.

(18) At least in principle, the shape of the pressed article 10 can also be obtained using alternative methods and devices, such as injection molding or alternative pressing methods for the manufacture of raw parts (also referred to as intermediates or blanks). Nevertheless, each of these alternative approaches may have certain disadvantages, depending on the actual circumstances, which are at least partially overcome within the context of the present disclosure. When a pressed article that is at least similarly shaped is produced using conventional pressing methods, post-processing is indispensable. Generally, a rough contour is obtained by pressing or injection molding, which must be extensively machined, especially by grinding.

(19) The method and the device according to the present disclosure enable, according to at least some embodiments, a significant reduction and/or even elimination of such post-processing by means of grinding. In other words, it can be manufactured close to the final contour (net shape) and with only little post-processing and/or no post-processing.

(20) In combination, a Cartesian coordinate system X, Y, Z can be derived from FIGS. 3 and 4, which is used for illustrative purposes herein. An X-axis designates a longitudinal axis. A Y-axis designates a transverse axis. A Z-axis designates a height axis. It goes without saying that other assignments and designations may be used. The person skilled in the art can easily understand the necessary conceptual transformations and assignments. The same applies to position and direction information, such as above, below, laterally, transversely, in front, behind and the like. The X, Y, Z coordinate system is referred to repeatedly for illustrative purposes hereinafter.

(21) The pressed article 10 comprises a main body 12, which substantially extends in a longitudinal direction X, cf. also FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. A cutting edge 18 is formed at the respective end of the main body 12, which defines a cutter edge 16. The cutting edge 18, by way of example, is arranged as a cutting edge 18 which has a circular shape, at least partially. Tools with such cutting edges may be used for gloss processing and/or gloss turning, for example.

(22) It can be seen for instance from the illustration according to FIG. 4, which shows a plan view, that the cutting edges 18 have a diameter and/or a transverse extension (in the Y direction) which is greater than a transverse extension of the main body 12. Accordingly, a tapering or constriction 14 is formed between the ends that are provided with the cutting edges 18.

(23) As it is generally known, the cutter edges 16 include a rake face 20 and a relief face 22, which includes a tapering. The cutter edges 16 are designed with point symmetry with respect to a center of the pressed article 10. This allows a simple change between the two cutter edges 16 by a 180° rotation of the cutting insert.

(24) In certain embodiments, the pressed article 10 is oriented in a cavity of a pressing device in such a way that the Z axis coincides with a main pressing direction. Accordingly, special measures must be taken to ensure that the pressed article 10 can be demolded with the smallest possible number of mold parts and punches within the context of manufacturing approaches that come as close to the final contour as possible, and that requires little post-processing or no post-processing at all.

(25) According to the view orientation in FIG. 4, the main pressing axis Z is oriented perpendicular to the view there. In other words, a punch would “see” the silhouette shown in FIG. 4. If one would try to demold the relief faces 22 of the cutter edges 16 with the punches movable in the main pressing direction Z, this would lead to very thin walls at the punches.

(26) In the case of an exclusively lateral demolding, in which for instance two sliders are provided, which are movable along the Y direction, each slider would basically form the contour or silhouette shown in FIG. 3. However, in the region of the outer ends (in the X direction) of the cutting edges 18, this would lead to a mold partition and thus to the formation of burr. This is undesirable.

(27) Therefore, in the context of the present disclosure, it is proposed to demold the pressed article 10 by an interaction of frontal mold parts and transverse mold parts.

(28) In FIG. 3 dotted lines indicated by 24 designate an area which can be demolded laterally in the transverse direction Y by respective sliders. A slider that is arranged to be cuboid or trapezoid can extend between the lines 24. In FIGS. 1 and 3, further mold partitions 26, 28 are indicated. The mold partition 28 is basically congruent with the cutting edges 18. The mold partition 26 represents a transition between a side surface of the main body 12 and an elevation 36 at the respective upper and lower back 34 of the main body 12.

(29) In FIG. 3, the mold partitions 24 and 26 define an area 30, which can be demolded by a so-called frontal mold part. The area 30 is basically flat. A surface designated by 32 indicates the area that can be demolded by means of a so-called transverse mold part. The area 32 is basically congruent with the relief face 22. Accordingly, the area 32 contains a tapering in the Z-direction.

(30) An area designated by 34 is defined by the mold partitions 26, 28 and describes the portion which can be demolded by a punch which is movable in the main pressing direction Z. By way of example, the surface 34 involves the rake surface 20 including the ridge-shaped elevation 36.

(31) The ridge-shaped elevation 36 is arranged to be obtuse or obtuse-angled in the Z direction. Accordingly, the elevation 36 can be shaped by the geometry of the punches without significant, disadvantageous reductions in the wall thickness of the punches.

(32) In certain embodiments, on the basis of the mold partitions 24, 26, 28 and the progression of the press density that is caused by the main pressing axis Z, at least in the raw state of the pressed article 10, it is possible to draw conclusions about the type of manufacturing and the design of a die used for manufacturing. In addition, in certain embodiments, the type of manufacturing and the design of a die used for manufacturing may also be derived even in the sintered state of the workpiece from the mold partitions 24, 26, 28.

(33) With reference to FIGS. 5 to 11, exemplary aspects and designs of a device as well as a method for the near-net-shape manufacture of pressed hard-metal parts are elucidated. The device is overall designated by 40. The device 40 may be arranged as a part of a pressing plant, for example. In certain embodiments, the device 40 is arranged to produce hard-metal pressed articles based on hard-metal powder whose shape is at least similar to the shape of the pressed articles 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, by way of example.

(34) For illustrative purposes, the following figures show simplified representations of the pressed article 10 and components of the device 40. The orientation of the pressed article 10 in the device 40 is elucidated by the coordinate system X, Y, Z, which is shown in at least some of the figures described hereinafter.

(35) In certain embodiments, the device 40 is used for processing hard-metal powder for the manufacture of hard-metal pressed articles for the powder metallurgical manufacture of cutting inserts, inserts etc.

(36) The device comprises a bed 42 which can be part of or at least coupled to a frame. Furthermore, a die 46 is provided, which forms a cavity 48, cf. also FIG. 6. An (upper) opening 50 of the cavity 48 is also shown in FIG. 6.

(37) The die 46 comprises a first frontal mold part 54 and a second frontal mold part 56, which are mounted on the bed 42 offset from one another in the transverse direction Y, for instance. Accordingly, the first frontal mold part 54 is mounted on a horizontal guide 58. The second frontal mold part 56 is mounted on a horizontal guide 60. The horizontal guides 58, 60 are arranged as profile guides, for instance.

(38) Further, the die 46 comprises so-called transverse mold parts 64, 66. The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11 comprises a first transverse mold part 64 and a second transverse mold part 66. In FIG. 5, the first transverse mold part 64 is assigned to a first side of the device 40, which may also be referred to as the top side. The second transverse mold part 66 is assigned to a second side of device 40, which may also be referred to as the lower side. The transverse mold parts 64, 66 are offset from each other in the vertical direction along the vertical axis Z.

(39) A vertical guide 68 is provided for the movement of the first transverse mold part 64. A vertical guide 70 is provided for moving the second transverse mold part 66. Via the vertical guides 68, 70, the transverse mold parts 64, 66 are coupled to the bed 42.

(40) The frontal mold parts 54, 56 and the transverse mold parts 64, 66 together define parts of the die 46 which are not actively moved during the actual pressing process. The mold parts 54, 56, 64, 66 are opened to demold the pressed article 10. Punches 74, 76 can be retracted for the molding the pressed article 10 through openings 50 in the (closed) cavity 48, which is defined by the mold parts 54, 56, 64, 66. In the exemplary embodiment of the device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11, the cavity 48 is formed exclusively by moving parts. However, this does not exclude the possibility that in other exemplary embodiments shaping portions of the cavity 48 are formed by mold parts that are fixedly coupled to the bed 42.

(41) The device 40 comprises punches 74, 76 that are assigned to a punch group or punch unit 82. The first punch 74 may also be referred to as the upper punch. The second punch 76 may also be referred to as the lower punch. Accordingly, the first punch 74 is assigned to an upper side of the device 40 or the die 46. The second punch 76 is assigned to a bottom side of the device 40 or the die 46. In the pressing of hard-metal pressed articles to provide blanks to be sintered, generally two punches 74, 76 are used, which are arranged opposite to each other in the height direction or vertical direction Z and offset from each other, and which may approach one another in order to compress and to bring the hard-metal powder that is accommodated in the cavity 48 into shape.

(42) A first vertical guide 78 is provided for the movement of the first punch 74. A second vertical guide 80 is provided to move the second punch 76. According to at least some exemplary embodiments, the vertical guide 80 of the punch 74 is directly or mediately coupled with the first transverse mold part 64. The vertical guide 80 of the second punch 76 is, for example, directly or mediately coupled with the second transverse mold part 66.

(43) The horizontal guides 58, 60 for the frontal mold parts 54, 56 comprise a guide profile 88, which may also be referred to as the guide base. A corresponding counter profile is formed on the frontal mold parts 54, 56.

(44) The vertical guides 68, 70 for the transverse mold parts 64, 66 also include a guide profile 90, which is arranged on the bed 42. The transverse mold parts 64, 66 can contact the guide profile 90 via a corresponding counter profile.

(45) The vertical guides 78, 80 for the punches 74, 76 of the punch unit 82 comprise guide profiles 92 and 94. At least in accordance with the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11, the guide profiles 92, 94 of the vertical guides 78, 80 are not arranged directly on or fixedly coupled to the machine bed 42. Instead, the guide profiles 92, 94 are directly or mediately assigned to or coupled with the transverse mold parts 64, 66. In other words, the transverse mold parts 64, 66 can provide the guide for the punches 74, 76 for the movement in the Z-direction, or at least be part of such a guide. In certain embodiments, this is enabled by the fact that the transverse mold parts 64, 66 and the punches 74, 76 are movable parallel to one another in the Z-direction.

(46) In FIG. 5, feed directions or directions of movement of the mold parts 54, 56, 64, 66 and the punches 74, 76 are indicated by double arrows. The feed direction of the frontal mold part 54 is indicated by 100. The feed direction of the frontal mold part 56 is indicated by 102. The feed direction of the transverse mold part 64 is indicated by 104. The feed direction of the transverse mold part 66 is indicated by 106. The feed direction of the punch 74 is indicated by 108. The feed direction of the punch 76 is indicated by 110.

(47) The frontal parts 54, 56 can be fed along a horizontal plane defined by the axes X, Y. The transverse mold parts 64, 66 can be fed along a vertical plane which is oriented parallel to the Z axis and/or which coincides with the Z axis. In other words, the frontal mold parts 54, 56 can be fed laterally. The horizontal fittings 64, 66 can be fed vertically (from above and/or from the bottom). The punches 74, 76 may also be fed vertically (from above and/or from the bottom). The first transverse mold part 64 and the first punch 74 have parallel feed directions 104, 108. The second transverse mold part 66 and the second punch 76 have parallel feed directions 106, 110. The feed directions 104, 106, 108, 110 are parallel to each other. The feed directions 100, 102 are oriented parallel to each other and, for example, approximately perpendicular to the other feed directions 104, 106, 108, 110. In the event that several frontal mold parts are used, further (lateral) feed directions may be provided, which do not necessarily have to be parallel to any other (lateral) feed directions.

(48) A frontal shaping portion 116 is formed on the first frontal mold part 54. A frontal shaping portion 118 is formed on the second frontal mold part 56. A lateral shaping portion 120 is formed on the first transversal mold part 64. A lateral shaping portion 122 is formed on the second transverse mold part 66. A frontal shaping portion 124 is formed on the first punch 74. A frontal shaping portion 126 is formed on the second punch 76.

(49) In the context of the present disclosure, a frontal shaping portion is to be understood as a portion of the respective mold part which defines the cavity 48 and/or the shape of the article 10 to be produced, and which extends substantially transversely or perpendicularly to the feed direction of the used mold part. On the other hand, a lateral shaping portion is a section of the mold part which defines the cavity 48 or the shape of the article 10 to be produced, and which extends approximately parallel or slightly inclined to the respective feed direction of the mold part.

(50) Together, the shaping portions 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126 define the shape of the pressed article 10 to be produced, which results from the design of the cavity 48. For an illustration of the cavity 48, reference is also made to the detailed views of FIGS. 11 and 13.

(51) The frontal mold parts 54, 56 can be fed laterally, refer to the feed directions 100, 102. The shaping portions 116, 118 of the frontal mold parts 54, 56 form lateral sections of the cavity 48 and the pressed article 10 to be formed. In certain embodiments, the lateral surface 30 of the pressed article 10 can be produced with the shaping portions 116, 118, cf. also FIGS. 1 to 4.

(52) The punches 74, 76 are also provided with “frontal” shaping portions 122, 124, by means of which the respective surface 34 (cf. FIGS. 1 to 4) of the pressed article 10 is formed, which is exemplarily formed on the upper and lower side of the pressed article 10 to be produced. Thus, the surfaces 30, 34 to be formed by the “frontal” shaping portions 116, 118 and 122, 124 are basically perpendicular and/or, if at all, only slightly inclined with respect to the feed directions 100, 102 and 108, 110.

(53) It can be clearly different for the transverse mold parts 64, 66, which can be fed along the feed directions 104, 106. The “lateral” shaping portions 120, 122 define portions and/or surfaces 32 of the pressed article 10 to be formed. The surfaces 32 may also be referred to as lateral surfaces, since they extend substantially perpendicular and/or only slightly inclined with respect to a horizontal plane that is formed by the axes X, Y. However, the feed directions 106, 108 of the punches 74, 76 are parallel to the Z axis. In other words, the transverse mold parts 64, 66 are fed vertically, for example from above or from below, although they form “lateral” sections or surfaces 32 of the pressed article 10. Thus, the feed direction and operating direction of the shaping portion are oriented approximately transversely to each other.

(54) This enables a vertical, opposite demolding of the surfaces 32, which define the relief faces 22 of the cutting edges 16. Lateral demolding (along the X-direction) is not possible, since in this case the constriction 14 of the main body 12 would form an undercut area. Lateral demolding in the Y-direction would be disadvantageous, as then a mold partition transverse or perpendicular to the course of the cutting edge 18 would be necessary.

(55) The interaction of the shaping portions 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 can be seen for instance in the enlarged illustration in FIG. 11, wherein the cavity 48 is not shown there in a completely closed state, and wherein the shaping portion 122 of the transverse mold part 66 is not shown there due to the cut-out representation.

(56) With reference to FIGS. 5 to 11, an exemplary manufacturing sequence for the production of the pressed article 10 is illustrated. Starting from an open position, in which the frontal mold parts 54, 56, the transverse mold parts 64, 66 and the punches 74, 76 are extended at least to some extent compared to a closed position, the cavity is then closed at least partially, cf. for instance FIG. 6.

(57) FIG. 6 illustrates a filling configuration in which at least the frontal mold parts 54, 56 and the transverse mold parts 64, 66 are in the closed position. In other words, a cavity 48 is already defined which can be filled with a hard-metal powder. For this purpose, the device 40 comprises a filling unit 132, which comprises a filling shoe 134. In certain embodiments, the filling shoe 134 can be fed to an upper side of the die 46 to fill the cavity 48, cf. also FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. A feed direction of the filling shoe 134 is indicated by 136 in FIG. 7. The filling shoe 134 can be fed along a horizontal plane that is defined by the X axis and the Y axis.

(58) By way of example, the filling shoe 134 is placed above the opening 50, through which the (upper) punch 74 can retract. Accordingly, at least the punch 74 of the punch unit 82 is in the filling configuration spaced away from the die 46. This is elucidated in the views of FIGS. 6 and 7.

(59) The (upper) transverse mold part 64 is also provided with a corresponding recess so that the filling shoe 134 can be fed to the cavity 48. Generally, the filling of cavity 48 with the hard-metal powder is supported by gravity.

(60) In certain embodiments, the punch 74 is guided on a guide arm 138, especially on a guide profile 92 thereof (see FIG. 5), in order to provide enough space for the filling shoe 134. The coupling of the guides of the punch 74 and the transverse mold part 64 provides the required accessibility for the filling shoe 134.

(61) Similarly, a guide arm 140 may also be designed for the (lower) transverse mold part 66, on which the (lower) punch 76 is guided via a corresponding guide profile 92.

(62) The federal guide profiles 94 of the transverse mold parts 64, 66 (see again FIG. 5) are arranged adjacent to the lateral shaping portions 120, 122.

(63) FIG. 8 shows a closed pressing state in which the punches 74, 76 are also retracted into the die 46 in order to pressurize the hard-metal powder located therein. Now the punches 74, 76 are coupled to both the guide profile 92 on the guide arm 138, 140 and the guide profile 94, which is adjacent to shaping portion 120, 122. This allows precise guidance and force application, especially during the pressurizing process.

(64) FIG. 9 shows in a partially cross-sectional representation a state after the actual pressing process in which the pressed article 10 is formed. For illustrative reasons, FIG. 9 does not show the pressed article 10 and the punches 74, 76 in a cross-sectional state. The cutting plane shown in FIG. 9 is located centrally in the die 46 and parallel to the X axis and the Z axis. Furthermore, in FIG. 9 the mold parts 56, 64, 66 as well as the punches 74, 76 are shown in a partially disengaged state. The pressed article 10, which has a shape basically similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, can be demolded and/or removed.

(65) For illustrative reasons, FIG. 9 does not show the pressed article 10 and the punches 74, 76 in a cut state. The cutting plane shown in FIG. 9 runs centrally through the die and parallel to the X axis and the Z axis.

(66) FIG. 10 shows a corresponding perspective partial cut representation of the device 40 after the pressing process, wherein the cutting plane in FIG. 10 is oriented parallel to the Y axis and parallel to the Z axis. Again, the mold parts 54, 56, 64 as well as the punches 74, 76 are shown in a partially disengaged state. FIG. 11 illustrates a detailed representation of the arrangement according to FIG. 10. The interaction of the shaping portions 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126 can be derived in synopsis of FIGS. 9 to 11. In addition, reference is made to the further cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 and the corresponding detailed view of FIG. 13.

(67) FIG. 12 shows another perspective, partially cut representation of a device designated by 40, the design of which is basically similar to the design of the device 40 shown in FIG. 9.

(68) A further refinement may involve forming at the bed 42 abutment surfaces 144, 146, which may also be referred to as chamfers. From the sectional view in FIG. 12 it can be seen that corresponding mating surfaces are formed on the transverse mold parts 64, 66. In this way, a high-precision positioning and alignment of the transverse mold parts 64, 66 with respect to the bed 42 can be achieved. This results in a highly precisely defined cavity.

(69) For illustrative purposes, the pressed article 10 is not shown in the supplementary detailed illustration according to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 also shows the mold parts 64, 66 and 56 in the closed position. The punches 74, 76 are also shown in the retracted, closed position. In this way, the cavity 48 is illustrated, which is a negative of pressed article 10.

(70) FIG. 14 shows a schematic, greatly simplified, partially cut top view of another embodiment of the device 40. In FIG. 14, the cutting plane is oriented approximately parallel to the X axis and the Y axis, and central in the cavity 48. The frontal mold parts 54, 56 and the transverse mold parts 64, 66 are therefore shown in a cut representation.

(71) FIG. 14 also illustrates a locking device designated by 150, which is designed to accommodate lateral forces or pressures during the pressing process. In other words, the locking device 150 is used to fix or lock the frontal mold parts 54, 56 and the transverse mold parts 64, 66 in the closed position in order to form the cavity 48 with high precision.

(72) By way of example, the locking device 150 can comprise at least one holder 152, 154. The locking device 150 can support and fix the mold parts 54, 56, 64, 66 positively, non-positively or in any other suitable way, at least during the pressing process.