Abstract: A system for forming a metal strip into a die having a predetermined shape through a series of forming operations is described herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a difference of position between a malleable object and a target shape are described herein.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a system that includes an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag reader, a plurality of cutting dies, a plurality of RFID tags connectable to the corresponding cutting dies, and a controller including a computer usable program code including program instructions for scanning instruction the RFID tag reader to scan the RFID tags, updating respective piece counts corresponding to specific shapes provided by some of the plurality of cutting dies, and displaying the respective piece counts.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for cutting a sheet material, one or more sheets of the material are placed over a die attached to a die board. A cutting pad is placed over the sheet material. Seals are placed around or between the die board and cutting pad to create an enclosure. A vacuum is created in the enclosure or between the die board and cutting pad so as to draw the die board and cutting pad together and compress the sheets of material. The resulting assembly is passed through a roller press to cut the sheets of material. A process or apparatus for mounting dies to a die board or stripping scrap from between dies and a quick release fastener are also described.

Abstract: A company cutting leather pieces for assembly into a desired number of products, such as automobile interior components, wishes to cut the number of pieces of each or several patterns that are required to create the desired number of final products. The company may also, or alternately, wish to determine the yield of cut products from a particular hide. An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag containing information related to a pattern identity associated with each die may be placed onto each die. Dies placed on a hide for cutting may be polled to update a count of each pattern cut or to be cut. A hide may be scanned and fitted with an RFID tag containing information related to the area of the hide. Dies may be placed on the hide and the hide and dies polled to enable a comparison of the area of the hide with the total area of the patterns associated with the dies.

Abstract: A punch for attachment to a brace of a braced die has a hollow cutting nose with a leading end for cutting a material to be punched and a trailing end opposite the leading end. A shaft extends from the trailing end of the nose and is sized to pass through an aperture in a brace. An upper retainer is joined to the shaft and has an upper retaining surface adapted to abut an upper surface of a brace. A lower retainer is joined to the shaft and has a lower retaining surface adapted to abut a lower surface of a brace. An internal waste evacuation chute extends from the interior of the hollow cutting nose and through the shaft for evacuating plugs of punched material from the nose.

Abstract: A steel rule die for cutting cloth and synthetic materials. The cutting die includes a primary substrate and a plurality of cutting units that are removably attachable to the substrate in such a manner that they are easy to adjust, remove and replace. The cutting units include secondary substrates with lengths of steel rule attached to them. The cutting units are secured to the primary substrate. Each steel rule is fixedly attached to a secondary substrate that is substantially harder than the primary substrate. The secondary substrate distributes the cutting load applied to the rule over a large surface area on the primary substrate to prevent the cutting units from diving into the soft primary substrate. Substantially the entire length of the steel rule is supported by the secondary substrate, thereby yielding a rigid cutting unit that is not susceptible to deformation.

Abstract: A steel rule die for cutting cloth and synthetic materials. The cutting die includes a primary substrate and a plurality of cutting units that are removably attachable to the substrate in such a manner that they are easy to adjust, remove and replace. The cutting units include secondary substrates with lengths of steel rule attached to them. The cutting units are secured to the primary substrate. Each steel rule is fixedly attached to a secondary substrate that is substantially harder than the primary substrate. The secondary substrate distributes the cutting load applied to the rule over a large surface area on the primary substrate to prevent the cutting units from diving into the soft primary substrate. Substantially the entire length of the steel rule is supported by the secondary substrate, thereby yielding a rigid cutting unit that is not susceptible to deformation.

Abstract: A steel rule die for cutting cloth and synthetic materials. The cutting die includes a primary substrate and a plurality of cutting units that are removably attachable to the substrate in such a manner that they are easy to adjust, remove and replace. The cutting units include secondary substrates with lengths of steel rule attached to them. The cutting units are secured to the primary substrate. Each steel rule is fixedly attached to a secondary substrate that is substantially harder than the primary substrate. The secondary substrate distributes the cutting load applied to the rule over a large surface area on the primary substrate to prevent the cutting units from diving into the soft primary substrate. Substantially the entire length of the steel rule is supported by the secondary substrate, thereby yielding a rigid cutting unit that is not susceptible to deformation.