Abstract: A machine for cooling and truing cast components made from cast material, and includes a construction for holding cast components and a holder to supply cooling liquids. A method to treat a cast component after removal of the cast component from the casting mold, the cast component being loaded immediately with a cooling liquid in a water spray.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for bending a metal conduit. A structural framework defines an elongated rectangular planar layout surface sized to continuously contact the metal conduit in support while making a bend mark on the metal conduit. A coordinate reference measures a placement of the bend mark on the metal conduit. A grooved bending shoe is mounted to the framework and configured to bend the metal conduit.

Abstract: This invention concerns an active reconfigurable stretch forming tool, and in another aspect the invention is a method of stretch forming. The tool comprises an array of extensible shape forming elements which are driven in extension to produce the same force per unit area across a workpiece during shape forming. An array of limit switches are located in front of the array of shape forming elements, such that each shape forming element is driven in extension towards a respective limit switch during shape forming. In use, each limit switch is activated by the workpiece as it is shaped and each switch, upon activation, prevents further extension of the respective driven element. The tool and method are useful in the forming of three dimensional shapes in solid sheet metal or mesh, to produce panels for reflector antennas.

Abstract: The invention concerns an anode straightening apparatus (10, 30, 60) for the straightening of an anode (100) typically used in an electrowinning process. In the preferred embodiment the apparatus includes clamps (21, 41, 71) for clamping a busbar (101) of the anode and clamps (22, 42, 71) for clam in a blade of the anode to the apparatus during the course of the straightening process. At least one sensor (29, 52, 85) monitors the curvature of the blade (102) of the anode (100) when the anode is secured to the apparatus by the clamps. The apparatus ((10, 30, 60) includes a movable head (24, 44, 78) housing straightening means for bending the anode in a desired direction in response to feedback received from the sensor. The head is movable in two planes of movement which are transverse to one another.

Abstract: A method to check and control a roller bending machine for continuously bending an elongated workpiece at variable curvature radii in a bending machine using a series of rollers for bending, comprises the steps of measuring the distance of the elongated work piece in a point that is situated downstream the series of rollers for bending in successive instants, calculating a curvature radius of each bend section of the elongated workpiece, comparing the calculated curvature radius with the desired curvature radius and determining a difference between them, calculating the change of position to which an upstream roller has to be subjected in order to annul such a difference and operating the upstream roller on the base of the calculated change of position. A machine embodying the method is also described.

Abstract: A hydroforming apparatus and working method able to simply find a load path are proposed, which system and method use a mold in which contact sensors able to judge contact with a metal tube inside the mold are mounted at least at two different positions in the tube axial direction, perform a first step of axially pushing tube ends in a state with the internal pressure held at a constant value and stopping the progress of the axial pushing action when judging that among the contact sensors not yet in contact mounted at positions closest to the tube ends detect contact with the metal tube, next perform a second step of raising only the internal pressure while leaving the positions of the tube ends fixed and stopping the increase in the internal pressure when the contact sensor not yet in contact judges contact, next perform a third step of lowering the internal pressure to the value before raising it while leaving the positions of the tube ends fixed, and repeat said first step to third step until all of said c

Abstract: A real time detector system for monitoring ram alignment in a can bodymaker measures ram (10) position immediately before and during impact with the dome forming station (1). Displacement measurements of the ram enable the user to adjust dome (1) position or otherwise correct ram (10) alignment and avoid multiple can failures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for preparing a mother plate (1) of a permanent cathode (2) to be used in a process for electrolytic recovery of metal such as metal electrorefining or metal electrowinning. The apparatus comprises a holding means (8) for releasable holding the permanent cathode (2), a measurement means (4) for measuring a shape of the mother plate (1) to obtain measurement data, a calculating means functionally connected with the measurement means (4) and configured for calculating geometric deviation of the mother plate (1) in comparison to a predefined reference shape by using said measurement data measured by said measurement means (4), and a pressing means (3) functionally connected with the calculating means and configured for automatically locally pressing the mother plate (1) in accordance with the calculated geometric deviation of the mother plate (1) to plastically deform the mother plate (1).

Abstract: A method for of aligning a vehicle comprising the steps of: supporting a first portion (19A, 19B) of the vehicle and deforming the vehicle by applying a force to a second portion (5) of the vehicle. The method is characterised in positioning at least one motion sensing measuring unit (9A, 9B) including at least one accelerometer on the supported first portion (19A, 19B) of the vehicle before the deforming step, and tracking any movements of the supported first portion (19A, 19B) of the vehicle during the deformation by means of the motion sensing measuring unit (9A, 9B). An arrangement for aligning a vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: This invention concerns an active reconfigurable stretch forming tool, and in another aspect the invention is a method of stretch forming. The tool comprises an array of extensible shape forming elements which are driven in extension to produce the same force per unit area across a workpiece during shape forming. An array of limit switches are located in front of the array of shape forming elements, such that each shape forming element is driven in extension towards a respective limit switch during shape forming. In use, each limit switch is activated by the workpiece as it is shaped and each switch, upon activation, prevents further extension of the respective driven element. The tool and method are useful in the forming of three dimensional shapes in solid sheet metal or mesh, to produce panels for reflector antennas.

Abstract: A swager for swaging marker bands to a medical catheter, comprises an article input mechanism, the article input mechanism having a first input roller assembly for receiving and conveying an article, a first sensor for detecting a predetermined aspect of the article, a second input roller assembly for receiving and conveying the article, a positioning roller assembly for precisely aligning the article with respect to the swaging head, and a second sensor all constructed and arranged in a streamwise orientation. The swager also has a radial compression swaging head with a central swaging aperture, the swaging head being aligned and communicatively coupled with the input mechanism to receive an input article from the article input mechanism and to swage the article, the swaging head being rotatable and including (i.) a unitary die plate including a plurality of die segments movably coupled to each other to provide a radial compressive force to the article disposed in the central swaging aperture; and (ii.