Abstract: A system for shaping a workpiece, which may be in the form of a structural framing component, includes a tool with first and second indenting blades for indenting the workpiece as driven by a blade control apparatus. The workpiece is supported at the tool by one or more workpiece support modules that are each selectively and removably securable to the tool. A base plate is provided at the tool for removably securing the workpiece support modules to the tool without having to detach the tool from a platform of substructure. The workpiece support modules may therefore be quickly replaced to coordinate with workpieces of various size and shape.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the shape of a surgical linking device that is to be attached to a bony body structure such as the spinal column based on digitized locations of a plurality of attachment elements engaged to the bony structure. The method is implemented by a computer system through a GUI to generate an initial bend curve to mate with the plurality of attachment elements. The initial bend curve may be simplified based on user input to the GUI to reduce the number of bends necessary to produce a well-fitting linking device and may be altered to help obtain the goals of surgery.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is described herein. The apparatus may include a pressure mechanism, a thermal device, a plurality of individually actuatable pins, and/or a pin actuation mechanism. The pressure mechanism may create a force against a die surface. The thermal device may change a thermal state of a material forced by the pressure mechanism against the die surface. The plurality of individually actuatable pins may form the die surface. The pin actuation mechanism may be connected to the plurality of actuatable pins and/or may actuate the pins. This apparatus improves on prior solutions in many ways. For example, embodiments of the thermoforming apparatus may require significantly less time between different molds than previous thermoforming machines and 3D printers.

Abstract: A reconfigurable stretch forming apparatus includes an array of pins adapted to be individually adjustable in height to define a reconfigurable forming surface, a pair of counter-rotating workpiece gripping devices being provided on opposite sides of the array of pins, each gripping device having an arcuate support surface for supporting a workpiece and a clamp member for clamping a work piece against the arcuate support surface, a driver being provided for rotating the counter-rotating gripping devices in opposing directions to stretch the work piece over the forming surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the shape of a surgical linking device that is to be attached to a bony body structure such as the spinal column based on digitized locations of a plurality of attachment elements engaged to the bony structure. The method is implemented by a computer system through a GUI to generate an initial bend curve to mate with the plurality of attachment elements. The initial bend curve may be simplified based on user input to the GUI to reduce the number of bends necessary to produce a well-fitting linking device and may be altered to help obtain the goals of surgery.

Abstract: A bending machine has a main spindle which supports a die. There are two counter dies each mounted on a working arm which rotate about the main spindle. The working arms are driven by link arms which are acted on by a translational drive. There is versatile three-point bending caused by three die points, two on the working arms and one on the die support shaft. The working arm drive includes a translational component which extends through the die support shaft, and which is connected to the link arms. This achieves excellent symmetry and compactness.

Abstract: A lower die or nest apparatus is described to create a hemming environment that locates and holds a metal panel to a frame using suction in a manner that substantially resists said loads on the panel without damage or deformation. The vacuum nest includes a frame made of a rigid material with an outer work surface and an interior region with a sealed elongated channel shaped to the contour of the metal panel. A polymeric rope is inlayed within a groove formed in the interior region to form the sealed elongated channel. A support member may be formed within the channel by inlaying additional polymeric ropes into grooves formed within the channel. A vacuum source is fluidly coupled with the sealed elongated channel to create a downward force by evacuating the volume of the channel.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a gear wheel from a powdered metal blank (1) compressed and sintered having a machining allowance in the gearing area, the powdered metal blank (1) being compacted by the machining allowance with a plastic deformation by rolling of a compression tool (7) forming a counter gearing engaging in the gearing of the powdered metal blank (1). To provide advantageous compaction conditions, it is suggested that the powdered metal blank (1) be compacted simultaneously around the entire circumference by rolling of profile rolls (8) forming the compression tool (7) axially to the powdered metal blank (1).

Abstract: A flexible forming device for forming three-dimensional shaped workpieces, comprising a frame, at least two working rollers, one or more working roller driving mechanisms and one or more adjusting mechanisms, wherein the working rollers, the one or more working roller driving mechanisms and the one or more adjusting mechanisms are installed on the frame respectively. At least one of the working rollers is a flexible working roller, which is bendable and adjustable. The forming device need not use mold and can realize the continuous formation of a three-dimensional curved surface of a plate-shaped workpiece, and the gradual formation of a tube-shaped or bar-shaped three-dimensional shaped workpiece. The forming device can save manpower, material and time.

Abstract: A flanging device for roll-flanging a rim of a component includes a flanging head, a first flanging roller which is mounted by the flanging head and can be rolled off on the rim during roll-flanging, and a second flanging roller which is mounted by the flanging head and forms a counter pressure roller for the first flanging roller, the flanging device including a stable protective structure which is or can be fastened to the component and forms a rolling surface for one of the flanging rollers or supports a rolling surface.

Abstract: Superplastic forming equipment and processes featuring a rotatable, low-friction stuffing unit for engagement with a blank sheet of superplastic formable metal to optimize the quantity or amount of material that is drawn onto a forming die for improved part forming. The stuffer is rotatably mounted in a chambered upper tool of the forming equipment and is offset from the forming profile of the lower forming die. The rotatable stuffer physically contacts portions of a blank sheet of heated forming material as the upper tool is lowered and effectively pulls the sheet material into the working area and around portions of the profile of the forming die in an intermediate or preforming phase of forming operation. With increased material in operative position in the die, the wall of the formed part will be intact and meet design specifications.

Abstract: Lightweight flexure-resistant thin metal sheet is produced by passing flexible thin metal sheet between rolls having defined teeth, the teeth having radiused corners so that rows of projections are formed on both faces of the sheet without damage to the surface material or the rolls.

Abstract: An adjustable rod bending device includes a support table, a pivot base mounted on the support table, a pivot bracket pivotally mounted on the pivot base, and multiple juxtaposed rollers mounted in the pivot bracket to pivot therewith and each having an upper end adjustably mounted in the pivot bracket and a lower end formed with an arcuate pressing surface. The arcuate pressing surface of each of the rollers can be moved to press a corrective spinal rod supported by two support posts, thereby accurately bending the corrective spinal rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending metallic and nonmetallic laminations in general and sliding covers for computer diskettes in particular, which has the particularity that it comprises a forming die provided with a lower base and a movable upper part. The lower base constitutes the forming punch and centering elements for positioning the lamination to be bent, while the movable upper part supports a presser adapted to engage the forming punch in order to retain the lamination in position and at least one bending roller which can engage the surface of the lamination without relative sliding in order to perform bending in abutment against the punch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing corners of metal panel, and more particularly to a method of processing corners of metal panel which is capable of processing the corners of the metal panel without tearing or notching of the material of the metal panel, so that the sealant or welding process thereof is not needed. The method comprises the steps of bending the metal panel according to a desired standard, the end of one side edge of each of bended portions being bended with not being bended by 100 mm from the end, and being then closely attached and fixed onto a supporter; pressing the metal panel using a roller rotationally, upwardly and downwardly moving in the vertical direction to process the corners of the metal panel; and cutting unnecessary metal piece formed in the pressing step.

Abstract: For shaping longitudinal grooves or comparable longitudinal structures into round housings or housings which are otherwise regularly shaped with respect to a longitudinal axis, a press is provided with a deforming tool whose top tool presses a workpiece through a corresponding roll arrangement of a bottom tool. The bottom tool has an opening which is coaxial to the top tool contains an axially displaceable cage provided with a group of rolls. The rolls are rotatably disposed in the cage and are supported on radially exterior abutments which are stationarily held in the bottom tool. The rolls are constructed as profile rolls and shape the desired longitudinal structures into the workpiece when it is moved through between the profile rolls. The resulting radial reaction forces are absorbed exclusively by the abutments and not by the cage. For supporting the longitudinal movement of the cage, a transmission is formed, for example, by gear wheels which are rotatably disposed on the cage.

Abstract: A pressing tool for coupling elements includes a forked receiver, a clamping claw which is interchangeably held in the receiver by a connecting pin, and a drive motor for the activation of the clamping claw. The connecting pin can be inserted through holes bored in the forked receiver and the clamping claw crosswise relative to the lengthwise direction of the housing of the pressing tool. A monitoring element is provided, which checks to ensure that the connecting pin is fully inserted. The monitoring element is connected to the power source of the drive motor by means of a switching element.

Abstract: For tying a compressed bale tending to expand primarily along a major axis, a bale tie made preferably from steel wire or alternatively from steel strap is bent to form two marcelled portions, which are characterized by sinusoidal undulations, which are oriented so as to be generally parallel to the major axis, and along which the tie can straighten to absorb tensile forces. A joint is formed at the opposite ends of the tie. Where bent to form the marcelled portions, the tie has an ultimate strength less than the ultimate strength of an undeformed portion of the tie but more than the ultimate strength of the joint. An apparatus for forming a wire with a marcelled portion comprises upper rolls and lower rolls, which are rotatably mounted and respectively on an upper block and a lower block. The upper block is pivotally mounted upon the lower block.

Abstract: A method for making blanks of a profile varying lengthwise, such as few-leaf springs involves placing a heated billet (1) on a sizing former (2) and feeding it to a deformation zone for forming a product of a preset profile which is carried out from the middle part (3) of the billet simultaneously towards its ends (4,5) thereof to form its runs by drawing or rolling. In an apparatus for carrying out this method, a forming means is provided with a constant-size groove (6) so that the billet runs are formed simultaneously during passage therethrough, or has a pair of carriages supporting non-driven rolls and moving in the opposite directions.

Abstract: A hand-operated rebar bender, bent rebar straightener, and rebar cutting machine which includes a base, a pair of spaced apart bending posts, and a linearly reciprocable slide disposed between the posts and movable reciprocally in directions perpendicular to a line interconnecting the posts. The slide defines first and second grooves, both adapted to receive the rebar, which move with the slide. The grooves are positioned so that the straight rebar to be bent and the inclined legs of bent rebars to be straightened can be positioned tangent to the post. The base includes a guideway for the slide and, in one of its first and second positions, an end of the slide projects past the guideway. A rebar cutter defined by a frame releasably connected to the base includes a pair of rebar cutting discs having aligned, peripherally open grooves, one of the discs being fixed and the other being rotatable relative to the one.

Abstract: A rod bending device using a combination of a movable mandrel and two moving rollers, between which mandrel and which rollers the rod bending is effected, the movements of which mandrel and rollers are effected simultaneously by the same power system and by a single power stroke. The power system, preferably a hydraulic system, effects movement of the movable mandrel which in turn simultaneously effects movement of two arms which support the movable rollers. This simultaneous movement of the mandrel and the rollers effects the bending of the rod which is positioned between the mandrel and the rollers. The curvature and the degree of the bending are determined by the shape of the mandrel, the positioning of the rollers on the supporting arms and the extent of the revolution of the arms about the individual fulcrums on which the respective arms are revolved.

Abstract: A metal forming tool having a reciprocal ram carrying tubular beam to which is attached a metal plate upon which workpiece holders are mounted, the tubular beam having a pivotal support to allow the tool to be pivoted between a vertical position in which the ram reciprocates vertically and a horizontal position in which the ram reciprocates horizontally. The workpiece holders are independently and detachably secured to the work platform by means located behind the workpiece holders on a line parallel to the line of movement of the ram, so that the tool performs both press and bending functions, and also workpieces with severe or multiple bends can be formed or straightened without excess obstruction by the securing means.