Shape-Optimized PM Tool Components Using Connection Technology

Abstract

The present invention relates to a punch unit of a powder press, wherein the punch unit is assembled from at least two parts, in this case comprising a headpiece as the first part and a widening region, adjoining the headpiece, as the second part, wherein the widening region flares to a diameter of a punch bolder which is directly attachable to an end, located away from the headpiece, of the widening region. Furthermore, punch units of a powder press that slide one inside another, a powder press itself and a method for operating a powder press are proposed.

Claims

1. A punch unit of a powder press, the punch unit is comprising at least two parts including a headpiece as the first part and a widening region, adjoining the headpiece, as the second part, wherein the widening region flares to a diameter of a punch holder adapted for direct attachment to an end, located opposite the headpiece, of the widening region.

2. The punch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headpiece and the widening region are produced from different materials with a different tolerance.

3. The punch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headpiece and the widening region are produced from the same material with a different tolerance.

4. The punch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headpiece and the widening region are produced by means of different methods.

5. The punch unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the widening region is produced by an additive method and the headpiece is produced by a cutting, casting and/or a hard-machining method.

6. The punch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headpiece is shorter than the widening section.

7. The punch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the punch unit comprises a foot piece which is attached to the widening region.

8. The punch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headpiece and/or the foot piece is connected detachably or non-detachably to the widening region.

9. Punch units of a powder press that slide in one another, comprising a plurality of punch units as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two of the punch units have a widening region which widens conically.

10. The punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 9, wherein the punch units that slide in one another are provided with a respectively different ratio of the length of the headpiece to the length of the widening region.

11. The punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 9, wherein in a common end position, the feet of the respective punch units end at heights that differ from one another.

12. The punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 9, wherein the punch units have an approximately equal elasticity in comparison with one another.

13. The punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 9, wherein in a common end position, the feet of the punch units end at the same height along a plane.

14. The punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outermost punch unit compresses less than an inner punch unit.

15. A powder press having punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 9.

16. A method for operating a powder press, in which punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 9 are operated, wherein monitoring in the form of control or regulation is used, which performs an equalization between different compressions of the punch units that slide in one another as a load on a pressed workpiece is relieved.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein electronic compensation of the equalization is carried out.

18. A setup of a powder press with a set of punch units that slide in one another as claimed in claim 1, wherein said units are first inserted together and then set up jointly.

19. The punch unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the headpiece is produced by turning and/or pressing.

20. The punch unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the foot piece is attached to the widening region by a bayonet catch.

Description

[0021] Further advantageous embodiments and developments can be gathered from the following figures. One or more features from one or more figures can together yield further embodiments, likewise also in conjunction with the above-described features of the invention. In particular, the figures are conceived only for the improved clarification of the invention but not to restrict the same. In the figures:

[0022] FIG. 1: shows an assembly drawing in half section of a tool structure comprising three lower punch units with shape-optimized regions, here only in the lower punch area; in the upper punch area, for example, use can be made of an upper punch which has no widening region as proposed,

[0023] FIG. 2: shows a summary of all three lower punch units of the tool structure in a respectively different configuration,

[0024] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4: show a headpiece with form-fitting connection and a foot piece with a screw connection,

[0025] FIG. 5: shows a headpiece with form-fitting connection and shape-optimized region, connected to a conventionally fabricated foot piece by direct laser sintering,

[0026] FIG. 6: shows a shape-optimized region, connected to the conventionally fabricated headpiece by direct laser sintering,

[0027] FIG. 7: shows a shape-optimized region, connected to the conventionally fabricated headpiece by brazing, for example,

[0028] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9: show a shape-optimized region, connected to the conventionally fabricated headpieces, here three elements, by a clamping piece,

[0029] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11: show a shape-optimized region, screw-connected to the conventionally fabricated headpieces, here three elements, by a clamping piece,

[0030] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13: show a foot piece with a screw connection,

[0031] FIG. 14: shows a view of punch units that slide in one another, and

[0032] FIG. 15: shows a view of the known prior art with regard to a powder press.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an assembly drawing in half section of a tool structure comprising three lower punch units UE1, UE2, UE2 with shape-optimized regions, here only in the lower punch area. By means of a connection technology, here in the form of a plug-in or clamping connection, a shape-optimized, virtually conical region is connected to standard tool components to form a lower punch unit. Furthermore, the lower punches here each have different height levels in the attachment to the punch holder. Such a stepped structure primarily has the purpose of being able to implement the travels more simply by means of the height graduation. This makes it possible to dispense with a vertical region in the punch unit which may otherwise possibly be necessary. Furthermore, a better force flow in the respective punch unit results.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a summary of all three lower punch units of the tool structure. All the elasticities of the lower punch units UE1, UE2 and UE3 are preferably identical but in particular at least approximately equal. The differences which otherwise result from the different tool lengths are compensated by the shape-optimized region. The elasticities, here of the lower punch units, E1, E2, E3 are matched to one another, i.e. equal or virtually equal, depending on the technical necessity. The same is likewise feasible in the case of upper punch units.

[0035] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a headpiece 1 with form-fitting connection 2 and a foot piece 3 with a screw connection 6. The punch unit illustrated thus comprises the punch headpiece, the shape-optimized tool extension and the screwed punch foot piece. The punch headpiece is independent in relation to a material selection and can be produced, for example, by means of an additive method. A cutting method and/or hard machining are preferred. By means of a form-fitting plug-in connection as connecting means, the shape-optimized extension region, which is preferably produced by an additive method, is connected to the punch headpiece to form a punch unit. The shape-optimized tool extension region is preferably provided with calculated elasticity equalization in relation to the other punch units, wherein for example the punch units are at different tool levels.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a headpiece 1 with form-fitting connection 2 and shape-optimized region, connected to a conventionally fabricated foot piece 3 by direct laser sintering. Here, too, a punch headpiece can be produced for example by means of an additive method, a cutting, shaping, in particular casting and/or hard-machining method such as pressing or rolling. There is likewise an independent material selection for this purpose. A connection between the shape-optimized extension region and the foot is produced here by direct laser sintering on the foot. The punch foot itself can likewise be produced from an extremely wide range of materials, likewise for example also fabricated by means of an additive method.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a shape-optimized region, which is connected to a conventionally fabricated headpiece 1 by direct laser sintering. In this embodiment, the shape-optimized region is produced in one piece with the foot piece 3 by means of an additive fabrication method. The punch headpiece, on the other hand, has been produced separately therefrom as an individual part. A connection between the headpiece and the shape-optimized region is made here by means of direct laser sintering on the headpiece.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a shape-optimized region which, for example, is connected to the conventionally fabricated headpiece 1 by brazing. Here, too, the shape-optimized region is provided with the foot piece 3 as an additively fabricated unit.

[0039] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a shape-optimized region which is connected to the conventionally fabricated headpieces 1, here in the form of three elements, by a clamping piece 4. The punch unit comprises one or more punch headpieces, a connecting element in the form of a foot piece 3 and the shape-optimized tool extension. The shape-optimized tool extension region ensures the elasticity equalization between the punch units. Also attached to the shape-optimized tool extension at the bottom is the punch holder 5. The latter can be screwed on or else connected by means of a bayonet catch.

[0040] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a shape-optimized region which is screwed to the conventionally fabricated headpieces, here three elements, through a clamping piece.

[0041] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show a foot piece 3 with a screw connection 6. The punch foot piece is screwed on by means of the latter.

[0042] FIG. 14 shows a view of punch units that slide in one another. In the view shown, the lower punches are self-supporting. This is only one possible configuration. Support can also be provided in another way.

[0043] FIG. 15 shows a schematic view of known prior art with regard to a powder press. As can be seen in comparison to FIG. 14 but also FIG. 1, this known solution is taller and does not permit this movement close to one another during setting up, as the solution now proposed permits.