Abstract: A method for estimating the strength of a laser welded blank including a first blank and a second blank joined together by a weld seam. The method may include forming a plurality of indentations in the first blank, the second blank, and the weld seam to determine an average value of a micro-hardness (Vickers); determining a scale-up ratio K; multiplying the scale-up ratio K by the average values of the micro-hardness of each of the first blank, the second blank, and the weld seam to obtain a scaled-up average value of the microhardness of each of the first blank, the second blank, and the weld seam; running a finite elemental analysis (FEA) simulation using the scaled-up average values of the microhardness; and based on the results of the simulation, determining whether the strength of the laser welded blank is sufficient to withstand being subjected to a forming process.

Abstract: A stamping machine configured to shape a sheet material including an upper binder including first teeth, a lower binder including second teeth, and a punch. A first cylinder is positioned between a lower binder and a support surface. A second cylinder is positioned between the upper binder and the lower binder. A cushion pin is positioned at the support surface that is configured to contact and control movement of the lower binder relative to the punch. A force exerted by the second cylinder is greater than that exerted by the first cylinder, and the force exerted by the cushion pin is greater than that exerted by the second cylinder. The first and second cylinders and the cushion pin are used to control when the first and second teeth are permitted to engage the sheet material, which assists in preventing or minimizing spring back of the sheet material through post-stretching.

Abstract: A stamping apparatus that includes an upper die, a blank-holding binder, and fixed lower die. The fixed lower die features a drawing punch and the upper die features a corresponding cavity. The fixed lower die includes a stake bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. The blank-holding binder includes a draw bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. In the stamping process, the draw bead engages a blank in a first stage, causing the blank to begin to stretch into the shape of the drawing punch with a greater tightened partially finished panel shape. In a second stage, the draw bead disengages the blank as the blank is drawn towards the drawing punch. In a final stage, the stake bead engages the blank to tighten the blank around the drawing punch into a final shape.

Abstract: A stamping apparatus that includes an upper die, a blank-holding binder, and fixed lower die. The fixed lower die features a drawing punch and the upper die features a corresponding cavity. The fixed lower die includes a stake bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. The blank-holding binder includes a draw bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. In the stamping process, the draw bead engages a blank in a first stage, causing the blank to begin to stretch into the shape of the drawing punch with a greater tightened partially finished panel shape. In a second stage, the draw bead disengages the blank as the blank is drawn towards the drawing punch. In a final stage, the stake bead engages the blank to tighten the blank around the drawing punch into a final shape.

Abstract: A laser beam is scanned along spaced apart side-by-side laser tracks to form corresponding spaced apart side-by-side hardened metal tracks across a binder surface of the forming die. Each hardened metal track is oriented to extend longitudinally in a direction that is normal to the metal flow direction across the binder surface during a sheet metal forming operation. The scanning forms the corresponding hardened metal tracks across the binder surface without needing to perform a post-hardening machining operation on the sheet metal forming die to remove distortion caused by the laser hardening process.

Abstract: A metal blank is clamped between upper and lower binders with the metal blank engaging against a protrusion extending from a binder surface of any of the upper binder, the lower binder, and both upper and lower binders, to create a binder gap between the metal blank and the binder surface adjacent the protrusion. The binder gap prevents cooperating springback control binder elements of the binder surface from actively engaging the metal blank. The metal blank is drawn into a cavity, with the protrusion riding on the metal blank until the protrusion falls off an edge of the metal blank, which closes the binder gap between the metal blank and the binder surface causing the cooperating springback control binder elements to actively engage the blank for the post-forming stretching operation.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal part that includes placing a metal blank in a stamping apparatus having a first die including a plurality of metal gainers and a second die including a plurality of recesses that correspond to the plurality of metal gainers, and compressing the metal blank such that the metal gainers and the corresponding recesses provide the metal blank with regions of localized stretching. Each of the metal gainers and recesses includes a flat surface such that during the compressing of the metal blank to provide the metal blank with the regions of localized stretching, a strain exerted on the metal blank by the metal gainers and recesses is less than a strain exerted on the metal blank by metal gainers and recesses that do not include the flat surface.

Abstract: A stamping press binder assembly for forming a finished stamped product from a blank includes an upper die for at least partially forming the finished stamped product, a stationary punch, an inner lower binder, and an outer lower binder. The inner and outer lower binders are both supported by a single cushion.

Abstract: Segment openings are formed in a metal sheet separated by uncut sections at a first processing station, which define an inner blank portion of the metal flow opening. At a second processing station, the uncut sections and the inner blank portion initially transfer stress around the segment openings and across the interior flow opening during a forming operation. During the forming operation, a protrusion of one mold member contacts a first side of the inner blank portion of the interior flow opening. In addition, another mold member is contact the opposite side of the metal sheet so that the mold members cooperate to separate all but one of the uncut sections by which the inner blank portion remains attached to the metal sheet. In this way, the interior metal flow opening is completed without piercing the metal sheet at the second processing station during the forming operation.

Abstract: A method of forming a finished stamped product includes positioning a blank on a blank holder between an upper die and a lower die, inserting a movable wedge block between the blank holder and the upper die to establish a first binder gap, and while the movable wedge block is inserted, performing a first strike of the blank by lowering the upper die a first distance to contact and partially form the blank, the movable wedge block limiting downward movement of the upper die relative to the lower die. After the first strike, withdrawing the movable wedge block to establish a second binder gap between the blank holder and the upper die, and while the movable wedge block is withdrawn, performing a second strike of the blank by lowering the upper die a second distance to finally form the blank into the finished product.

Abstract: A stamping press binder assembly for forming a finished stamped product from a blank includes an upper die for at least partially forming the finished stamped product, a stationary punch, an inner lower binder, and an outer lower binder. The inner and outer lower binders are both supported by a single cushion.

Abstract: In a first stage or operation, at least one shear initiation breakthrough opening is formed through the ultra-high strength material sheet at an interior location. A leading terminal end of each of at least two inclined shearing edges of an interior opening shearing tool is positioned in the at least one shear initiation breakthrough opening. The interior opening shearing tool is different from the breakthrough opening forming tool. In a second stage or operation, shearing of the material is initiated from the at least one shear initiation breakthrough opening by advancing the at least two inclined shearing edges of the interior opening shearing tool against the ultra-high strength material sheet and relative to a corresponding shearing tool.

Abstract: A binder assembly for stamping sheet material includes an upper die, a stationary punch, an outer ring, and an inner ring. The stationary punch is aligned to be received inside a cavity of the upper die. The outer ring and the inner ring extend around the punch and are movable relative thereto. The inner ring includes teeth on a top surface and is positioned an initial distance from an end of the punch. The upper die is driven along the punch the initial distance such that the punch is received inside the cavity of the upper die a partial distance and a remaining distance such that the punch is received inside the cavity of the upper die a deeper distance.

Abstract: An outer bend radius is cold formed in an outer position within a final arc of the angled corner with an outer bend radius male die member. A central bend radius is cold formed in a central position spaced from the outer position and within the final arc of the angled corner with a central bend radius male die member. An inner bend radius is cold formed in an inner position that is spaced from the outer and central positions and the inner position is within a final arc of the angled corner with an inner bend radius male die member. The angled corner is transferred between each of the bend radii male die members using a continuous advanced high strength metal sheet in which the angled corner is formed.

Abstract: A film container incorporating a light-blocking pile fabric composite disposed in bounding relation to a slit opening in the container. The pile fabric composite includes a heat curable resilient polymeric stiffening primer disposed across the underside of a pile fabric and a layer of substantially solvent free, heat activatable adhesive disposed below the primer and bonded to a bare or coated surface of black pigmented polyvinyl acetate of the container.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automated sample analysis are provided in which a plurality actuators are involved in moving a samples from one compartment to another, and appropriate reactants are combined with the sample in one or more of the compartments. The actuators are preferably contained in a device that also has a detector, data reduction capabilities, and a printer. Contemplated signal detectors include a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, and a charge-coupled device. Steps contemplated to be performed automatically include aliquoting the sample, diluting the sample, contacting at least a portion of the sample with a reagent having a substantially selective binding towards the analyte. Contemplated reactants include sense and antisense nucleic acids, antibodies and antigens, solid-phases such as paramagnetic beads, reagents, other substrates, and wash solutions.