Abstract: A control system for controlling the movement of the slide of a hydraulic press of the type having a main cylinder containing a piston mounting the slide. The control system comprises an electronic processor, a pressure transducer to measure the pressure of hydraulic fluid applied to the piston to move the slide downwardly, a position encoder coupled to the slide to determine the vertical position of the slide, and a hydraulic circuit to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the cylinder to move the piston and slide upwardly and downwardly. The hydraulic circuit comprises a plurality of cartridge valves having controls actuable by outputs from the processor.

Abstract: An electronic control system for use with hydraulic press brakes to provide compensation for material spring back to accurately produce a desired bend angle in the work piece. The ram force and flank angle of the work piece are monitored during the forming cycle to calculate the theoretical unloading curve of the work piece. Intersection of the plastic portion of the work piece force-angle curve with the theoretical unloading curve provides a calculated point of ram reversal resulting in the desired bend angle. The system compensates for changes in springback resulting from changes in material properties from one work piece to the next.

Abstract: An arbor slitter for use in a slitting line, the arbor slitter having at least two pairs of cooperating, blade-carrying arbors. The inboard ends of the arbors of each arbor pair are supported by an inboard bearing housing. The inboard bearing housings of the arbor pairs are mounted on a common base having caster means resting upon a smooth upper surface of a portion of the slitter frame. The base by virtue of its caster means is both shiftable and positionable along this upper surface of the slitter frame so that each arbor pair can be shifted between a working position and a set-up position. The slitter frame has an outboard bearing housing movable thereon into and out of engagement with the outboard ends of the arbors of each arbor pair when in the working position.

Abstract: A production, automated method of hot forging finished articles from powder metal preforms, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein the preforms are passed through an induction heating device, whereby they are heated to at least forging temperature. Thereafter, the heated preforms are passed to a pair of dies whereby they are forged into finished articles, after which they are cooled. The entire process may, if required, be conducted in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The apparatus includes an induction heating means, a forging means, a cooling station, feeding or conveying means to introduce the preforms into the induction heating means, and conveying means to move the preforms from the heating means to the forging means and from the forging means to the cooling station. The entire operation is automatic, including the feeding of the preforms through the apparatus, the control of temperature, and the lubrication and preheating of the dies.