Patents Assigned to Autoform Engineering GmbH
  • Patent number: 12147735
    Abstract: A method for user interaction in a CAE/CAD system comprises displaying to a user a graphical user interface (2) with a model display region (3) and a control region (5) for controlling operation of the CAE/CAD system, and an accept button (9). The accept button (9) can be in an active state, signifying that the CAE/CAD system is ready to perform operations defined by user input when the accept button (9) is clicked. When the accept button (9) is in the active state, the CAE/CAD system graphically indicates to the user an extended apply region (11) which, when a clicking operation takes place inside it, will cause the CAE/CAD system to perform the same operations as when the accept button (9) is clicked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: AutoForm Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Hillmann
  • Patent number: 11914926
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for designing a web (4) linking parts (3) to a carrier (2) in a sheet metal strip (1) that is processed in a progressive die process, comprises the steps of processing input actions from a user, the input actions specifying parameters of web primitive elements, the web primitive elements comprising at least connections (5), each connection (5) representing a link between sheet metal sections; the user input actions specifying, for each connection (5), a first connection point (13), at which the connection (5) is joined to a first sheet metal section, and a second connection point (13), at which the connection (5) is joined to a second sheet metal section; the method allowing for a user input of a deformability parameter associated with a connection (5), for modifying a spring constant of the connection (5) in a direction between the first and second connection points (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AutoForm Engineering Gmbh
    Inventors: Waldemar Kubli, Matthias Pietsch, Maria Rasmussen, Marcus Kahler
  • Patent number: 9342070
    Abstract: In a method for designing a sheet-metal-forming process in which a sheet-metal part is formed, a visual representation of the sheet-metal part is computed and displayed. Visual labels are displayed, each label being visually linked to the representation of a feature of the part. The labels indicate one or more processing units of the sheet-metal-forming process that are assigned to the features. The labels can also indicate process operations to which these processing units are assigned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Kubli, Matthias Pietsch, Silke Wagner
  • Patent number: 8768503
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the creation of addendums (4) of tools for sheet metal formed parts (2). In the case of this method, fill surfaces (7) for the smoothing of irregular zones of a component edge (3) are generated. Initial directions (31) of sectional profiles (10) are determined in such a manner, that sectional profiles (10) at a distance from one another are arranged along a component (3, 8) with utilization of these initial directions (31) and that an addendum (4) is creatable by the connection of these sectional profiles (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hillmann, Waldemar Kubli
  • Patent number: 8280708
    Abstract: In a method, a data processing system and a computer program for the configuration of tools and/or processes for the manufacturing of formed metal parts, raw data (r) for the description of a geometry and of a condition of a formed metal part are calculated from a set of nominal simulation parameters (d,n) through the simulation of a metal forming process. From a set of nominal simulation parameters (d,n) in a simulation run a set of raw data is calculated and saved, the preceding step is repeated several times with a variation of the simulation parameters (d,n), and as a result of this further sets of raw data (r) are generated and saved, and a statistical analysis (10) of several or of all the saved sets of raw data (r) is carried throughout for the purpose of calculating statistical characteristic values (Cr) of the raw data (r).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Kubli, Titus Zwickl, Oliver Brühl
  • Patent number: 8271118
    Abstract: A method for computer-aided generation determining of a method plan for the manufacture of sheet-metal forming parts by way of forming processes, comprises the following steps: determining a set of geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) of a part (10) in a geometry model of the part (10), wherein each of the geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is described by a feature type and by way of geometric parameters for describing the geometric shape of the geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15); determining an associated method standard for each of the geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), wherein a method standard describes one variant for manufacturing the respective geometry feature (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), the selection of the method standards which may be associated with a certain geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), is dependent on the feature type of the geometry feature (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), and wherein a method standard comprises at least one module, and a module represents a processing unit and des
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Pietsch, Silke Wagner, Nicolas Lefebvre, Waldemar Kubli
  • Publication number: 20120197602
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the creation of addendums (4) of tools for sheet metal formed parts (2). In the case of this method, fill surfaces (7) for the smoothing of irregular zones of a component edge (3) are generated. Initial directions (31) of sectional profiles (10) are determined in such a manner, that sectional profiles (10) at a distance from one another are arranged along a component (3, 8) with utilization of these initial directions (31) and that an addendum (4) is creatable by the connection of these sectional profiles (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: AutoForm Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias HILLMANN, Waldemar KUBLI
  • Patent number: 8155777
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the creation of addendums (4) of tools for sheet metal formed parts (2). In the case of this method, fill surfaces (7) for the smoothing of irregular zones of a component edge (3) are generated. Initial directions (31) of sectional profiles (10) are determined in such a manner, that sectional profiles (10) at a distance from one another are arranged along a component (3, 8) with utilization of these initial directions (31) and that an addendum (4) is creatable by the connection of these sectional profiles (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: AutoForm Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hillmann, Waldemar Kubli
  • Patent number: 8140306
    Abstract: Processing steps are determined and optimized during the production of sheet metal forming parts, for example, using deep drawing/stretch forming processes. During the determination, using a computer-assisted design system, of process operations (PO1-PO6) for the description of forming processes on a forming part, the following steps are carried out: defining geometry models for the computerized description of a geometry of the forming part in a target state; defining several geometry operators (m1-m9, e1-e6), wherein one geometry operator (m1-m9, e1-e6) associates a geometry of an area of a first geometry model with a geometry of an area of a second geometry model, and the geometry operator (m1-m9, e1-e6) describes a transition from one of the two associated geometries to the other one; and defining several groups of respectively at least one geometry operator (m1-m9, e1-e6), wherein each one of the groups is respectively associated with a process operation (PO1-PO6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Kubli, Matthias Hillmann
  • Publication number: 20110144957
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the creation of addendums (4) of tools for sheet metal formed parts (2). In the case of this method, fill surfaces (7) for the smoothing of irregular zones of a component edge (3) are generated. Initial directions (31) of sectional profiles (10) are determined in such a manner, that sectional profiles (10) at a distance from one another are arranged along a component (3, 8) with utilization of these initial directions (31) and that an addendum (4) is creatable by the connection of these sectional profiles (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hillmann, Waldemar Kubli
  • Patent number: 7894929
    Abstract: A method for creating addendums (4) of tools for sheet metal formed parts (2) wherein fill surfaces (7) for the smoothing of irregular zones of a component edge (3) are generated. Initial directions (31) of sectional profiles (10) are determined such that sectional profiles (10) at a distance from one another are arranged along a component (3, 8). An addendum (4) is created connecting the sectional profiles (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hillmann, Waldemar Kubli
  • Patent number: 7885722
    Abstract: A method for computer-aided generation of tool parameters for tools for the manufacture of sheet-metal forming parts by way of forming processes, including the following steps: determining a set of geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) of a part (10) in a geometry model of the part (10); determining an associated method standard for each of the geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), wherein a method standard comprises at least one module, and a module represents a processing unit and describes which processing unit may be executed within a forming operation; determining components for each of the modules of the method standard, wherein these components describe the parts of tools which are required for realising the module; determining component parameters from geometric parameters of the geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), wherein the component parameters comprise geometric parameters of the components or of the respective tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Pietsch, Silke Wagner, Nicolas Lefebvre, Waldemar Kubli
  • Patent number: 7870792
    Abstract: In the computed-based analysis of forming processes, for example, manufacturing sheet metal parts for the automobile industry, the material loading is represented by major and minor strains ?I, ?II and is visualised with respect to a forming limit strain curve. In the method according to the invention, one proceeds from a target state (4n) of the material, as has been determined in the computed simulation of the forming process. A proportional trajectory of a loading and thus of the state variables of the material, in particular of the stresses (?), is determined, which leads to the same target state. The associated proportional strain trajectory is evaluated for this proportional loading trajectory. The strain state (4p) which results from this strain trajectory, is called the equivalent strain state (4p) and may be used in the forming limit strain diagram for assessing the target state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Kubli, Matthias Sester
  • Patent number: 7623939
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the creation of addendums (4) of tools for sheet metal formed parts (2). In the case of this method, fill surfaces (7) for the smoothing of irregular zones of a component edge (3) are generated. Initial directions (31) of sectional profiles (10) are determined in such a manner, that sectional profiles (10) at a distance from one another are arranged along a component (3, 8) with utilization of these initial directions (31) and that an addendum (4) is creatable by the connection of these sectional profiles (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hillmann, Waldemar Kubli
  • Patent number: 7542889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a geometrical object for modeling the geometry of a metal sheet forming stage (1) in a CAD system. According to said method, an operator is defined which links a first geometrical model with a second geometrical model. The link is associated with a method for physically modeling a treating process which transfers a forming stage (1) from a corresponding first state into a second state. When the first geometrical model is modified, the second geometrical model is automatically updated in accordance with the physical modeling concept. The physical modeling concept for forming stages is thereby integrated into the static geometrical model environment of a CAD system. The physical modeling method is a method for calculating a border line (3) of a forming stage in an initial state prior to a forming process from a geometry of the border line (3) in a resulting state after the forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Autoform Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hillmann, Waldemar Kubli