Abstract: A pilot assembly includes a body portion including an outer surface and an opening defined in the outer surface. A pilot is configured for extending through an alignment hole in a sheet of material and is coupled with the body portion. A shaft of the pilot extends through the opening and beyond the outer surface. A stripper includes a bushing and a resilient biasing member. The bushing is configured for moving with respect to the main body portion and the pilot to push the sheet of material off of the pilot. The resilient biasing member is situated within the body portion and is compressed when the bushing engages the sheet of material.

Abstract: Methods of thermo-mechanically processing a preform composed of tool steel and tools to modify a workpiece. The preform has a region containing austenite. The method comprises establishing the region at a process temperature between a martensitic start temperature and a stable austenitic temperature. While at the process temperature, the region is deformed to change an outer dimension and to modify the microstructure to a depth of 1 millimeter or more. The tool comprises a member composed of tool steel. The member includes a first region that extends from the outer surface to a depth of greater than 1 millimeter and a second region. The first region includes a plurality of grains having an average misorientation angle greater than about 34°, an average grain size that is at least 10% smaller than the second region, and has a different grain orientation than the second region.

Abstract: Retainers for holding tools and methods for controlling the motion of a locking member, such as a resiliently-biased locking ball, in a retainer. The locking member is disposed in a passage that intersects another passage configured to receive the tool. A portion of the locking member has a contacting relationship with the tool in order to hold the tool within its passage. The retainer further includes a constraint member, which may be a threaded member or a non-threaded member, that occludes the passage containing the locking member. During a stamping operation using the tool, the constraint member mechanically constrains motion of the locking member within its passage by contact with the locking member.

Abstract: Tools with a thermo-mechanically modified working region and methods of forming such tools. The tool includes a working region containing steel altered by a thermo-mechanical process to contain modified carbide and/or alloy bands. In use, a surface of the working region contacts a workpiece when the tool is used to perform a metal-forming operation.

Abstract: A method of thermo-mechanically processing a preform composed of tool steel and a tool to modify a workpiece. The preform has a region containing austenite. The method comprises establishing the region at a process temperature between a martensitic start temperature and a stable austenitic temperature. While at the process temperature, the region is deformed to change an outer dimension and to modify the microstructure to a depth of 1 millimeter or more. The tool comprises a member composed of tool steel. The member includes a first region that extends from the outer surface to a depth of greater than 1 millimeter and a second region. The first region includes a plurality of grains having an average misorientation angle greater than about 34°, an average grain size that is at least 10% smaller than the second region, and has a different grain orientation than the second region.

Abstract: A pilot assembly includes a body portion including an outer surface and an opening defined in the outer surface. A pilot is configured for extending through an alignment hole in a sheet of material and is coupled with the body portion. A shaft of the pilot extends through the opening and beyond the outer surface. A stripper includes a bushing and a resilient biasing member. The bushing is configured for moving with respect to the main body portion and the pilot to push the sheet of material off of the pilot. The resilient biasing member is situated within the body portion and is compressed when the bushing engages the sheet of material.

Abstract: Retainers for holding tools and methods for controlling the motion of a locking member, such as a resiliently-biased locking ball, in a retainer. The locking member is disposed in a passage that intersects another passage configured to receive the tool. A portion of the locking member has a contacting relationship with the tool in order to hold the tool within its passage. The retainer further includes a constraint member, which may be a threaded member or a non-threaded member, that occludes the passage containing the locking member. During a stamping operation using the tool, the constraint member mechanically constrains motion of the locking member within its passage by contact with the locking member.

Abstract: A method of thermo-mechanically processing a preform composed of tool steel and a tool to modify a workpiece. The preform has a region containing austenite. The method comprises establishing the region at a process temperature between a martensitic start temperature and a stable austenitic temperature. While at the process temperature, the region is deformed to change an outer dimension and to modify the microstructure to a depth of 1 millimeter or more. The tool comprises a member composed of tool steel. The member includes a first region that extends from the outer surface to a depth of greater than 1 millimeter and a second region. The first region includes a plurality of grains having an average misorientation angle greater than about 34°, an average grain size that is at least 10% smaller than the second region, and has a different grain orientation than the second region.

Abstract: Tools with a thermo-mechanically modified working region and methods of forming such tools. The tool includes a working region containing steel altered by a thermo-mechanical process to contain modified carbide and/or alloy bands. In use, a surface of the working region contacts a workpiece when the tool is used to perform a metal-forming operation.

Abstract: A punch change retainer for positioning a floating punch in a retracted, disengage position and an extended, engage position. The change retainer includes a change retainer body and a punch retainer receiving aperture extending upwardly through the change retainer body from a bottom surface thereof. A gagging member is located in the change retainer body and is actuable by an actuator between a retracted position distal from a nose portion of the change retainer body and an extended position adjacent the nose portion of the change retainer body. A floating punch retainer is receivable within the punch retainer receiving aperture, and includes an upper end positioned for engagement with the gagging member. A punch receiving hole is defined in the floating punch retainer; where the punch receiving hole is adapted to be rotatably positioned about a longitudinal center line of the floating punch retainer within the punch retainer receiving aperture.

Abstract: A retainer assembly and tool combination for holding and releasing the shank of a punch includes a triangular retainer body with a punch opening extending through the body. An elongated locking ball hole intersects the axis of the punch opening and a locking ball is movable in the hole to engage tear-drop shaped ball receiving recess formed on the shank of a punch. A generally rectangular ball release access slot is formed in the retainer body through one side wall of the retainer in intersecting relation with the ball receiving hole with its longer axis aligned parallel with the axis of the shank opening. A notch is formed in the wall of the ball hole in opposed relation to the access slot and forms a latching ledge. A ball release tool is proportioned to fit within the access slot and has a pointed end with a ball lifting tapered surface. The terminal end is undercut to form a latching surface which is proportioned to be received in resting relation on the notch ledge.

Abstract: An improved ball-type punch retainer for holding and releasing the shank of a punch or a die includes a retainer body with a shank-receiving opening which extends into the body, and a locking ball is movable by a spring in an inclined hole in the retainer body into locking engagement with a tear-dropped shaped recess formed in the side of the shank. A tool access ball releasing slot is formed through a side wall of the retainer body and extends into the ball hole, to permit a tool to be inserted through the slot and into engagement with the locking ball, at a position between the center of the ball and the lower face of the retainer body. In one embodiment, the ball release access slot extends transversely through the body so that a tool may be inserted through either end of the slot into engagement with the locking ball and is operable to lift the ball against a biasing spring and to dislodge a jammed ball.

Abstract: A work performing member in the nature of a tool or die component comprised of multiple axially related parts including one element which has a work performing end and a shank end and a second element capping the shank end and forming an extension thereof as well as forming thereon a head. The shank end of the one element and the head provided by the other are so formed to effectively and simply key together in an unmistakable fashion whereby to prevent rotation of one relative the other and means are provided for interconnection of the head element to the shank end of the other element in a manner to achieve a pressured connection thereof. Said head element, in a preferred embodiment is further characterized by a form emphasizing the pressured and precisely related disposition of the elements in the connection thereof by the positioning thereof through the medium of alignment pins utilizing means and methods such as described in the U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,797,352.

Abstract: A die system wherein upper and lower die shoes have a basic generally standardized form and are adapted for an interchangeable mount of various sub-assemblies embodying different die tools. The system features means facilitating a precise and quick location of a sub-assembly on its related die shoe as well as a quick release thereof. The invention further provides a unique pressure cell for backing the material being worked in a manner to insure optimal performance of the die and a quality work product.

Abstract: A spring unit comprising spring means, a cage for the spring means, and means to control the path of movement of the spring means within the cage having in association therewith means to apply a required pre-load on the spring means within the cage.In preferred embodiments of the caged spring assemblies, the open spaces between the coils of a contained spring are reduced to a dimension less than that of the thickness of the coils themselves. This prevents the coils from winding or screwing and from materially affecting the prescribed pre-load in event of spring breakage.