METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SAMPLE PART

Abstract

A method for producing a part sample from a motor vehicle metallic welded part is disclosed having the steps of providing the metallic welded part, introducing the part into a water jet cutting device, water jet cutting a part sample section, which includes at least partially a weld seam, with the water jet cutting process being performed with sand mixed in, and removing and visually inspecting the part sample as a metallurgic micrograph.

Claims

1. A method for producing a part sample made from a metallic welded part, comprising: providing the metallic welded part; providing a water jet cutting device; introducing the metallic part into the water jet cutting device; water jet cutting a part sample section, which includes at least partially a weld seam, with the water jet cutting process being performed by sand being mixed in, removing and visually inspecting the part sample as a metallurgic micrograph.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising etching the part sample after the water jet cutting step.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising generating a cutaway around the section of the part sample, forming a breaking bar extending from and attached to the part sample, wherein the part sample can be broken out of the welded part at a later point of time.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising marking the part sample and/or the section of the part sample before or after the water jet cutting step.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing an industrial robot in the water jet cutting device for accepting the welded part, moving the industrial robot inside the water jet cutting device, and guiding the industrial robot under the water jet.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a manipulator which moves the water jet for the water jet cutting process.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising generating several part samples at a welded part parallel and next to each other.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the weld seams extending in the longitudinal direction of the part sample perpendicular to the weld seam.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the part sample is rectangular shaped in a plan view and has a dimension from 5 to 15 mm by 15 to 20 mm.

10. A method according to claim 3, wherein the breaking bar is formed at an upper face of the part sample and extends from a peripheral edge thereof.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the marking is a laser marking.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the part sample is dimensioned 5-15 mm by 10-20 mm.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the part sample is has a semi-circular shape and configuration in a plan view.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] For an understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a water jet cutting device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a detail of the welded part with three side-by-side and parallel arranged part samples; and

[0031] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part sample having a semi-circular shape and configuration.

[0032] In the figures, the same reference signs are used for identical or similar component parts, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Some embodiments will be now described with reference to the Figures.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a water jet cutting device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. It is surrounded by a protective panel 2, so that a technician 3 using it is located outside the water jet cutting device 1. A part 4 can be inserted in and/or transferred via a feeding of inserting device 5, for example, an exchange drawer, to the water jet cutting device 1.

[0035] An industrial robot 6 is arranged in the water jet cutting device 1, which engages the part and for example transfers it to a laser unit with a laser marking device 7. An autonomous water jet cutting device 8 is provided and a water basin 9 may be arranged underneath it during operation.

[0036] The part 4 to be cut is then arranged above the water basin 9 and the water jet cutting device 8 can be moved via a manipulator and can perform the cutting process above the water basin 9.

[0037] Moreover, a discharge device 10 is provided. The part that has been cut may be placed on the discharge device 10 and then removed from the water jet cutting device 1.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, a detailed configuration of the part 4 is shown. As a welding part it is made from a first component 4.1 and a second component 4.2, which are coupled to each other via a weld seam 11. As shown, for example, three part samples 12 are produced parallel and side-by-side by way of cutting. The part samples 12 are essentially configured in a rectangular form in a plan view and have a height H and width B. The weld seam 11 extends in the longitudinal direction L, the part samples 12 are cut out perpendicular in reference to the weld seam 11. The part samples 12 may however also be configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example, having a substantially semi-circular shape and configuration.

[0039] Then a cutaway 13 may remain in the part 4. A circumferential gap 14 develops between the cutaway 13 and the initially cut-out part sample 12. A breaking bar 15 remains in reference to the respective part sample 12 projecting beyond the face 16 of the part sample 12. Thus, the part sample 12 initially remains connected to the part 4. In the central part sample 12, shown in the image level, which is still located in the part, the breaking bar 15 is continuous and connected to the part. In the part sample 12, in reference to the image level at the right and the left, the breaking bar 15 is severed by breaking out the part sample 12 out of the part.

[0040] The part sample 12 at the right side of the image is seen in a plan view. The part sample 12 at the left side of the image is seen in a side view. The second component 4.2 overlaps here partially the first component 4.1 so that a first 4.1 and second 4.2 component in the upper section of the part sample 12 form a double-layer and are coupled to each other in a material-to-material fitting fashion via the weld seam 11. By water jet cutting here easily the double layer can be severed. At the right side of the image as well as on the part sample 12 in the part 4 lettering 17 is further shown, which is applied for example via laser marking on the part sample 12.

[0041] The lettering 17 is also applied at the other part samples 12, however here showing a different label number. In particular laser labeling offers the possibility to mark the part sample 12 with various data in a freely selected fashion.

[0042] Moreover, the method and the water jet according to the invention can easily sever wall thicknesses 18 ranging from 0.5 to 10 mm, or for example, from 1 to 3 mm or even a double layer area.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 3, a cut-out part sample 12 having the external contour of a semi-circle and/or half-moon is illustrated. In this configuration, two different cut edges 19, 20 are generated. A straight cut edge 19 can be produced with high precision. This means that the feed rate of the water jet for the cutting process is here rather slow. This straight cut edge 19 can then be used to later perform the analysis of the part sample 12. A rounded cut edge 20, here performed in a semi-circular form, can however be produced with less precision and/or lower quality at the cut edge. This means, the feed rate of the water jet for cutting is particularly high. The quality at the cut edge itself requires no particularly high precision and serves only for severing the part sample 12 from the part.

[0044] Moreover, the breaking bar 15 is formed at the rounded cut edge 20, by which the part sample 12 initially remains connected to the part after the cutting process and can then be broken out. A weld seam, which extends for example perpendicular over the part sample 12, is not shown in greater detail. The semi-circle cut-out part sample 12 of FIG. 3 may be formed of a varying radius or extend over an angular range of less than or more than 180.

[0045] Representative, non-limiting examples of the disclosure were described above in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, each of the additional features and teachings disclosed above may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings.

[0046] Moreover, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the above detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the invention. Furthermore, various features of the above-described representative examples, as well as the various independent and dependent claims below, may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0047] 1Water jet cutting device [0048] 2Protective panel [0049] 3Technician [0050] 4.1First part [0051] 4.2Second part [0052] 5Feed device [0053] 6Industrial robot [0054] 7Laser labeling device [0055] 8Water jet cutting device [0056] 9Water basin [0057] 10Discharge device [0058] 11Weld seam [0059] 12Part sample [0060] 13Cutaway [0061] 14Gap [0062] 15Breaking bar [0063] 16Face of 12 [0064] 17Labeling [0065] 18Wall thickness [0066] 19Straight cut edge [0067] 20Rounded cut edge [0068] BWidth [0069] HHeight [0070] LLongitudinal direction