Method for Optimizing Forming Processes for Forming Workpieces, and Forming Device

Abstract

A method for optimizing forming processes for forming workpieces, in which information characterizing a relative position of a workpiece inserted in a forming device in relation to at least one reference point of the forming device is detected by means of an optical detection device, wherein at least one parameter for adjusting the respective forming process for forming the respective workpiece is determined during a respective forming process, depending on the information detected during the respective forming process and depending on the information detected during the previous forming processes performed prior to the respective forming process and stored in an electronic computing device.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for optimizing forming processes for forming workpieces, the method comprising: acquiring, by means of an optical acquisition device, a respective item of information characterizing a relative location of a respective workpiece inserted in a forming device in relation to at least one reference point of the forming device, determining, in a respective forming process, at least one parameter for adapting the respective forming process for forming the respective workpiece, depending on the information acquired in the respective forming process and on the items of information acquired during preceding ones of the forming processes carried out before the respective forming process and stored in an electronic computing device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the respective information is acquired before the workpiece is formed by means of a forming tool of the forming device.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, to acquire the respective information, an edge contour of the workpiece inserted in the forming device is acquired by the optical acquisition device.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the parameter is determined depending on the items of information stored in the electronic computing device by at least one statistical method.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the parameter is determined depending on a deviation of the information acquired in the respective forming process from a target value determined depending on the items of information acquired in the preceding forming processes.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising acquiring, by the optical acquisition device: the relative location of the workpiece inserted in the forming device relative to a contour of the forming device, and/or the relative location of the workpiece inserted in the forming device relative to at least one positioning element of the forming device, and/or a length dimension of at least a section of the workpiece inserted in the forming device.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein, to adapt the respective forming process, an adjustment position of an adjustment of at least one positioning element of the forming device relative to the forming tool is determined.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the optical acquisition device, by which the respective information is acquired, is spaced apart from the forming tool.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the parameter is determined depending on a correlation between the respective items of information acquired in the preceding forming processes and a respective quality variable, which is acquired in the preceding forming processes and characterizes a quality of the respective formed workpiece.

20. A forming device for forming workpieces, which is designed to carry out a method according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] The disclosure will now be explained in more detail on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a schematic method diagram of a method according to the disclosure; and

[0073] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view in partial section of a forming device according to the disclosure, via which a method according to the disclosure can be carried out.

[0074] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a schematic method diagram of a method for optimizing 1 forming processes 2, 3 for forming workpieces 4, which are metallic in particular. FIG. 2 shows a schematic view in partial section of a forming device 5, which is designed to carry out the method. The forming device 5 is designed or provided for forming the workpieces 4.

[0076] In the respective forming process 2, 3, the respective workpiece 4 is formed via a forming tool 6 of the forming device 5. This means that multiple forming processes 2, 3 are carried out, wherein a respective one of the workpieces 4 is formed during each of the forming processes 2, 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the respective workpiece 4 is inserted here in the forming device 5 or in the forming tool 6. The forming tool 6 is outlined particularly schematically in FIG. 2.

[0077] The forming is preferably deep drawing. This means that the forming tool 6 can be designed as a deep drawing tool. The deep drawing tool preferably comprises a stamp. The deep drawing tool can comprise a holding element designed in particular as a hold down. The deep drawing tool can have a die. The stamp preferably does not move during the deep drawing. This means that the stamp is stationary during a deep drawing process, in which the respective workpiece is formed via the deep drawing tool.

[0078] In a first step of the deep drawing process, the die preferably moves relative to the workpiece 4, in particular downward. As soon as the die, the workpiece, and the hold down are in contact, i.e., they touch one another, the hold down preferably follows the movement of the die until the deep drawing tool is closed. The workpiece 4 is formed by a respective geometry of the die and the stamp. A material flow, i.e., a relative movement between the workpiece and a surface of the deep drawing tool, and a plastic deformation of the workpiece can occur in this case.

[0079] The respective workpiece 4 is preferably formed as a semifinished product. This means that in the respective forming process 2, 3, the respective workpiece 4 is formed into a component. The forming is thus provided for producing the component. The component is preferably a body part of a body of a motor vehicle, in particular an automobile.

[0080] In the method, via an optical acquisition device 7 (e.g., a camera or an optical sensor), at least one respective item of information 10 characterizing a relative location 8 of the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 or in the forming tool 6 in relation to at least one reference point 9 of the forming device 5 is acquired. This means that in the respective forming process 2, 3, the respective information 10 is acquired, which characterizes the relative location 8 of the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 in relation to the at least one reference point 9.

[0081] In order to be able to increase a quality of the respective workpiece 4 formed via the forming device 5 in particular, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it is provided that in a respective one of the forming processes 2, depending on the information 10 acquired in the respective forming process 2 and depending on items of information 10, 10a acquired in preceding ones of the forming processes 3 carried out before the respective forming process 2 and stored in an electronic computing device 11, at least one parameter 12 for adapting 13 the respective forming process 2 for forming the respective workpiece 4 is determined. This means that in each of the forming processes 2, 3 the information 10 is acquired via the optical acquisition device 7 and stored in the electronic computing device 11. The stored items of information 10a of the preceding forming processes 3 are thus present in the electronic computing device 11 when the respective forming process 2 is carried out. In the respective forming process 2, the parameter 12 can thus be determined via the information 10 acquired in the respective forming process 2 and via the items of information 10a stored in the electronic computing device 11. The electronic computing device 11 is schematically shown in FIG. 2. The electronic computing device 11 may comprise a processing unit (e.g., a processor, microprocessor, CPU, etc.) and a storage unit (e.g., memory, RAM, hard disk, etc.).

[0082] The parameter 12 is provided for adapting the respective forming process 2. The respective forming process 2 can thus be optimized by the adaptation 13. The items of information 10a stored in the electronic computing device 11 can thus be used in or for the optimization 1. This means that the optimization 1 is based on findings determined or obtained in the preceding forming processes 3. Differences from the preceding forming processes 3 can therefore be determined or established, for example, in the respective forming process 2. This can be taken into consideration in the determination of the parameter 12. The quality of the formed respective workpiece 4 can thus be increased in particular. This can be achieved, for example, by a particularly improved process control of the respective forming process 2 depending on the parameter 12, in particular by data enrichment.

[0083] The electronic computing device 11 is preferably connected in a data-transmitting manner to the optical acquisition device 7.

[0084] It is preferably provided that, in particular in the respective forming process 2 and the preceding forming processes 3, the respective information 10 is acquired before the respective workpiece 4 is formed via the forming tool 6 of the forming device 5. The respective information 10 can thus be acquired particularly precisely. This can be the case, for example, in that the respective information 10 thus cannot be corrupted or changed by the forming of the workpiece 4.

[0085] It is preferably provided that, in particular in the forming processes 2, 3, an edge contour 14 of the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 or the forming tool 6 is acquired via the optical acquisition device 7 to acquire the respective information 10. The quality of the respective formed workpiece 4 can thus be increased in particular. This can be achieved, for example, in that the respective edge contour 14 can have a particularly high influence on the quality of the formed workpiece 4.

[0086] For example, the edge contour 14 can deviate, in particular because of tolerances, from a predefined or desired target geometry due to cutting to size of the respective workpiece 4. This deviation can influence the relative location 8 of the respective workpiece 4 in the forming device 5. This means that the relative location 8 of the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 can deviate as a result of the deviation, which is in particular tolerance-related, of the edge contour 14 from a desired or predefined relative location of the respective workpiece 4 in the forming device 5. This can negatively influence the forming of the respective workpiece via the forming tool 6. A quality of the formed workpiece 4 can thus be particularly low or inadequate. Due to the acquisition of the edge contour 14, the deviation of the edge contour 14 can thus be taken into consideration in the determination of the parameter 12 by way of the relative location 8. The relative location 8 can thus be corrected, for example, by which the respective forming process 2 can be optimized particularly advantageously. The quality of the respective formed workpiece 4 can thus be increased in particular.

[0087] In a further embodiment, it is provided that the parameter 12 in the respective forming process 2 is determined depending on the items of information 10a stored in the electronic computing device 11 via at least one statistical method 15. This means that the statistical method 15 is used to determine or calculate the parameter 12 via the items of information 10a stored in the electronic computing device 11. The parameter 12 can thus be determined particularly precisely. The quality of the formed respective workpiece can thus be increased in particular. The statistical method 15 can be carried out or used during the respective forming process 2 and/or during the preceding forming processes 3.

[0088] In a further embodiment, it is provided that in the respective forming process 2, the parameter 12 is determined depending on a deviation 16 from the information 10 acquired in the respective forming process from a target value 17 determined depending on the items of information 10, 10a acquired or stored in the preceding forming processes 3. This means that the target value 17 depends on the acquired or stored items of information 10, 10a of the preceding forming processes 3, wherein the deviation of the information acquired in the respective forming process 2 from the target value 17 is determined or calculated in the respective forming process 2. In the respective forming process 2, the parameter 12 is determined or calculated depending on the deviation 16. The parameter 12 can thus be determined particularly advantageously, in particular particularly precisely. The quality of the formed workpiece 4 can thus be increased in particular.

[0089] The target value 17, in particular in the respective forming process 2 and/or in the preceding forming processes 3, can be determined depending on the items of information 10, 10a determined or stored in the preceding forming processes 3, in particular via the statistical method 15.

[0090] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the forming device 5 comprises at least one positioning element 18 designated as a guide. Two of the positioning elements 18 are shown here in FIG. 2. The respective positioning element 18 is provided for holding or fixing the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 or in the forming tool 6. This means that the respective positioning element 18 can be provided for securing the location of the respective workpiece 4 in the forming device 5. This means that the relative location 8 can be set or defined via the respective positioning element 18. The respective positioning element 18 is preferably adjustable or movable, in particular along at least one movement direction 19, relative to the forming tool 6, in particular the stamp and/or the die, or the respective workpiece 4. The respective positioning element 18 can therefore be adjusted or moved, in particular along the movement direction 19, between at least two adjustment positions 20. The relative location 8 of the respective workpiece 4 can thus be set or specified via the respective positioning element 18.

[0091] It is preferably provided that for adapting 13 the respective forming process 2, one of the adjustment positions 20 of the adjustment 21 or movement of the respective positioning element 18 relative to the forming tool 6 or the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 is determined. This means that the adjustment position 20 is determined as the parameter 12 in the respective forming process 2. In the respective forming process 2, the respective positioning element 18 can thus be adjusted into the respective adjustment position 20, wherein the respective workpiece 4 is formed via the forming tool 6 while the respective positioning element 18 is located in the respective determined adjustment position 20. The respective forming process 2 can thus be optimized particularly advantageously. The quality of the formed workpiece 4 can thus be increased in particular.

[0092] It is preferably provided that via the optical acquisition device, in particular in the respective forming process 2 and/or in the preceding forming processes 3, preferably as the respective information 10, the relative location 8 of the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 or in the forming tool 6 relative to a contour 22 of the forming device 5, which is in particular fixed with respect to the forming device 5, is acquired. The contour 22 is preferably formed as an edge. For example, the contour 22, which is in particular fixed, or the edge is arranged on a housing element, in particular a stand, of the forming device 5. Alternatively, the forming tool 6 can comprise the contour 22. The contour 22 can therefore be used as the reference point 9. The relative location 8 can thus be determined particularly precisely.

[0093] Alternatively or additionally, via the optical acquisition device 7, in particular as the respective information 10, the relative location 8 of the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 or in the forming tool 6 relative to at least one of the positioning elements 18 of the forming device 5 can be acquired in the respective forming process 2 or in the preceding forming processes 3. The respective positioning element 18 can thus be used as the reference point 9 or the respective reference point 9 can be arranged on the respective positioning element 18. The relative location 8 can thus be determined particularly precisely.

[0094] Alternatively or additionally, via the optical acquisition device 7, in particular as the respective information 10, a length dimension 23 of at least a section 24 of the respective workpiece 4 inserted in the forming device 5 or in the forming tool 6 can be acquired in the respective forming process 2 or in the preceding forming processes 3. The relative location 8 can typically depend, in particular particularly strongly, on the length dimension 23. The parameter 12 can thus be determined particularly advantageously, in particular particularly precisely. The length dimension 23 can be understood in particular as a dimension of the respective section 24. The respective section 24 is preferably the edge contour 14 of the respective workpiece 4 or a part of the edge contour 14.

[0095] In a further embodiment, it is provided that the optical acquisition device 7, via which the respective information 10 is acquired, is spaced apart from the forming tool 6. The optical acquisition device 7 is therefore preferably arranged outside the forming tool 6. The forming tool 6 can thus be replaced or rebuilt independently of the optical acquisition device 7.

[0096] As illustrated in FIG. 1, it is provided in a further embodiment that, in particular in the respective forming process 2, the parameter 12 is determined depending on a correlation 25, which is in particular stored in the electronic computing device 11, between the respective items of information 10, 10a acquired or stored in the preceding forming processes 3 and a respective quality variable 27, which is acquired or stored in the preceding forming processes 3 and characterizes a quality 26 of the respective formed workpiece 4. This means that in the respective forming process 2 and/or in the preceding forming processes 3, the respective quality variable 27 is acquired, wherein the correlation 25 is a relationship or a function of the items of information 10, 10a acquired or stored in the preceding forming processes 3 and the quality variables 27. The parameter 12 can thus be a function of the correlation 25 stored in the electronic computing device 11. That is to say, the parameter 12 is determined via the correlation 25. An influence of the information 10 acquired in the respective forming process 2 on the quality 26 of the formed respective workpiece 4 can therefore be taken into consideration by the quality variable 27 in the determination of the parameter 12. The respective forming process 2 can thus be optimized particularly advantageously. The quality of the formed workpiece 4 can thus be increased in particular.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0097] 1 optimization [0098] 2 forming process [0099] 3 preceding forming processes [0100] 4 workpiece [0101] 5 forming device [0102] 6 forming tool [0103] 7 acquisition device [0104] 8 location [0105] 9 reference point [0106] 10 information [0107] 10a stored information [0108] 11 electronic computing device [0109] 12 parameter [0110] 13 adaptation [0111] 14 edge contour [0112] 15 statistical method [0113] 16 deviation [0114] 17 target value [0115] 18 positioning element [0116] 19 movement direction [0117] 20 adjustment position [0118] 21 adjustment [0119] 22 contour [0120] 23 length dimension [0121] 24 section [0122] 25 correlation [0123] 26 quality [0124] 27 quality variable