Method of bending operations and bending system using the same

• US 5,799,530 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagasawa, Tadahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, DAVID B
• Application Number:
  US08/771,308
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 72/389.1, 72/389.3, 72/14.8, 72/379.2, 72/461, 72/420
• US Class Current: 72/389.3
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 5/02 on press brakes without making use of clamping means
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 5/0209 Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4093 characterised by part programming, e.g. entry of geometrical information as taken from a technical drawing, combining this with machining and material information to obtain control information, named part programme, for the NC machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40937 concerning programming of machining or material parameters, pocket machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35192 From design derive sequence of bending so that bending is possible
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35196 From workpiece data derive assembly tool data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36203 Bending of workpiece, also for long slender workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45143 Press-brake, bending machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Object of the present invention is to provide a method or a system by which an operator without skills in bending operation can easily and quickly perform precise bending operations on a sheet workpiece by following skilled operator'"'"'s experience, hints or data. To achieve this object, the method of this present invention comprises the steps of storing data for a shape of said part; storing data for a bending order for manufacturing said part from said workpiece; selecting tools for performing each of bending operations; storing data for the selected dies; storing bending press control data for controlling the operation of said press to performs the bending operations in said bending order; and storing bending operation support information for supporting an operator for performing the bending operation by using said bending press. The bending operation support information includes at least one of hints regarding operations of attaching a protective tape on the shoulder of a die; arranging small tools on the bending press so that punch and die are laterally shifted from each other; attaching small die on a ram with a fixing tape; aligning the punch and die relative to each other in a longitudinal direction; determining the original point of one of the punch and die relative to the other; positioning the workpiece relative to the punch and die; positioning the workpiece relative to a back gauge device; and checking a dimension of a shape of the workpiece after a bending operation.

Claims

1. A method of generating data for manufacturing a part by bending a workpiece along a plurality of bending lines with a bending press that has detachable tools, said method comprising:

storing data for a shape of said part;

storing data indicating an order of bending operations in which the workpiece is bent along the bending lines;

selecting tools for performing each of the bending operations along the bending lines;

storing data for selected tools;

storing bending press control data for controlling the operation of said bending press to perform the bending operations in said bending order; and

storing bending operation support information for supporting an operator for performing the bending operations by using said bending press,

said storing of said bending operation support information comprising storing support information regarding the operation of at least one of the following;

attaching a protective tape on a shoulder of a die;

arranging small tools on said bending press so that a punch and a die are laterally shifted from each other;

attaching a small die on a ram with a fixing tape;

aligning a punch and a die relative to each other in a longitudinal direction;

determining an original point of a punch or a die relative to the other;

positioning the workpiece relative to a punch and a die;

positioning the workpiece relative to a backgauge device; and

inspecting dimensions of a shape of the workpiece after performing a bending operation.

2. A method for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 1, said method further comprising performing an alignment of tools in a longitudinal direction of said bending press before performing the bending operations, and storing support information regarding an execution of the alignment of tools in the longitudinal direction.

3. A method for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 1, said method further comprising performing an original-point adjustment operation to adjust an original point of a die with respect to a punch, and storing support information regarding an execution of the original-point adjustment operation.

4. A method for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 1, said method further comprising performing a trial bending operation for each of the bending operations to be performed on the workpiece, and storing support information regarding a frequency of checking an accuracy of dimensions of the workpiece.

5. A method for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 1, said method further comprising performing an original-point adjustment operation to determine an original point of a die with respect to a punch, and storing control data D, L and Yz for performing the bending operations with said bending press, wherein D specifies a vertical position of the die relative to the original point of the die, L specifies a position of a backgauge device in a lateral direction relative to a central position of the die, and Yz specifies a vertical position of the backgauge device relative to a top end position of the die.

6. A method of manufacturing a part by bending a workpiece along a plurality of bending lines with a bending press that has a detachable tool, said method comprising:

storing data for a shape of said part;

storing data indicating a bending order for manufacturing said part from said workpiece;

selecting tools for performing each of the bending operations in said bending order;

storing data for specifying the selected tools;

mounting said selected tools on said bending press;

storing bending press control data for controlling the operation of said bending press for performing each of the bending operations;

bending said workpiece in said bending order in accordance with the bending press control data for each of the bending operations; and

storing bending operation support information for supporting an operator for performing the bending operations,

said storing of said bending operation support information comprising storing support information regarding operation of at least one of the following;

attaching a protective tape on a shoulder of a die;

arranging small tools on said bending press so that a punch and a die are laterally shifted from each other;

attaching a small die on a ram with a fixing tape;

aligning a punch and a die relative to each other in a longitudinal direction;

determining an original point of a punch or a die relative to the other;

positioning the workpiece relative to a punch and a die;

positioning the workpiece relative to a backgauge device; and

checking a dimension of a shape of the workpiece after performing a bending operation.

7. A method of manufacturing a part according to claim 6, said method further comprising:

determining a bending order and tools for use to manufacture said part in accordance with a shape of said part;

storing the determined bending order and the tools in a computer memory;

selecting the determined tools from a tool storage;

determining an arrangement of the tools on said bending press;

storing the determined arrangement of said tools in the computer memory;

mounting said tools on said bending press in accordance with said determined arrangement;

determining an attitude of the workpiece to be fed into said bending press at each bending step;

storing the determined attitude of the workpiece for each said bending step; and

feeding the workpiece into said bending press with said attitude for each said bending step and bending the workpiece along the bending lines with said bending press.

8. A method for manufacturing a part according to claim 6, said method further comprising performing an alignment of tools in a longitudinal direction of said bending press before performing the bending operations, and storing support information regarding an execution of the alignment of tools in the longitudinal direction.

9. A method for manufacturing a part according to claim 6, said method further comprising performing an original-point adjustment operation to adjust an original point of a die with respect to a punch, and storing support information regarding an execution of the original-point adjustment operation.

10. A method for manufacturing a part according to claim 6, said method further comprising performing a trial bending operation for each of the bending operations to be performed on the workpiece, and storing support information regarding a frequency of checking an accuracy of dimensions of the workpiece.

11. A method for manufacturing a part according to claim 6, said method further comprising performing an original-point adjustment operation to determine an original point of a die with respect to a punch, and storing control data D, L and Yz for performing the bending operations with said bending press, wherein D specifies a vertical position of the die relative to the original point of the die, L specifies a position of a backgauge device in a lateral direction relative to a central position of the die, and Yz specifies a vertical position of the backgauge device relative to a top end position of the die.

12. A system for generating data for manufacturing a part by bending a workpiece along a plurality of bending lines with a bending press that has detachable tools, said system comprising:

a section that stores data for a shape of said part;

a section that stores data indicating a bending order for manufacturing said part from said workpiece;

a section that stores data for specifying the selected dies for each bending operation;

a section that stores bending press control data for controlling the operation of said bending press to perform the bending operations in said bending order; and

a section that stores bending operation support information for supporting an operator to perform the bending operations by using said bending press,

said storing of said bending operation support information comprising storing support information regarding the operation of at least one of the following;

attaching a protective tape on a shoulder of a die;

arranging small tools on said bending press so that a punch and a die are laterally shifted from each other;

attaching a small die on a ram with a fixing tape;

aligning a punch and a die relative to each other in a longitudinal direction;

determining an original point of a punch or a die relative to the other;

positioning the workpiece relative to a punch and a die;

positioning the workpiece relative to a backgauge device; and

checking a dimension of a shape of the workpiece after performing a bending operation.

13. A system for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

a server provided with a database for storing various data relating bending operations for manufacturing a part and with a bar code generating device for generating a bar code in relation to the part to be produced by the bending press; and

a terminal computer for controlling the bending press, the terminal computer being connected to said server for data communication and being provided with a bar code reading device for reading a bar code and retrieving data concerning the part from said database.

14. A system for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 12, said system method further comprising a section that stores support information regarding an execution of an original-point adjustment operation that is performed to adjust an original point of a die with respect to a punch.

15. A system for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 12, said system further comprising a section that stores support information regarding a frequency of checking an accuracy of dimensions of the workpiece.

16. A system for generating data for manufacturing a part according to claim 12, said system further comprising a section that stores control data D, L and Yz for performing the bending operations with said bending press, wherein D specifies a vertical position of the die relative to an original point of a die, L specifies a position of a backgauge device in a lateral direction relative to a central position of the die, and Yz specifies a vertical position of the backgauge device relative to a top end position of the die.

17. A method for generating data for manufacturing a part by bending a workpiece with a bending press, said method comprising:

storing data that specifies a shape of said part;

storing data indicating an order of performing bending operations on the workpiece with said bending press;

storing data that specifies tools for performing each of the bending operations, said tools comprising a punch and a die;

performing an original-point adjustment operation to adjust an original point of the die with respect to the punch, and storing bending operation support information regarding an execution of the original-point adjustment operation; and

performing a trial bending operation for each of the bending operations to be performed on the workpiece, and storing bending operation support information regarding a frequency of checking an accuracy of dimensions of the workpiece.

18. A method for manufacturing a part according to claim 17, said method further comprising storing control data D, L and Yz for performing the bending operations with said bending press, wherein D specifies a vertical position of the die relative to the original point of the die, L specifies a position of a backgauge device in a lateral direction relative to a central position of the die, and Yz specifies a vertical position of the backgauge device relative to a top end position of the die.

19. A method for manufacturing a part according to claim 18, said method further comprising storing bending operation support information that specifies dimensions of the workpiece to be checked for accuracy, and modifying the control data D and L, during a trial bending operation, when the dimensions of the workpiece are checked and determined not to be within a predetermined tolerance.

20. A method for generating data for manufacturing a part by bending a workpiece with a bending press, said method comprising:

storing data that specifies a shape of said part;

storing data indicating an order of performing bending operations on the workpiece with said bending press;

storing data that specifies tools for performing each of the bending operations, said tools comprising a punch and a die;

determining an arrangement of said tools on said bending press;

mounting said tools on said bending press in accordance with said determined arrangement;

performing an original-point adjustment operation to adjust an original point of the die with respect to the punch, and storing bending operation support information regarding an execution of the original-point adjustment operation;

performing a trial bending operation for each of the bending operations to be performed on the workpiece; and

storing control data D, L and Yz for performing the bending operations with said bending press, wherein D specifies a vertical position of the die relative to the original point of the die, L specifies a position of a backgauge device in a lateral direction relative to a central position of the die, and Yz specifies a vertical position of the backgauge device relative to a top end position of the die.

21. A method for manufacturing a part according to claim 20, said method further comprising storing bending operation support information regarding a frequency of checking an accuracy of dimensions of the workpiece, storing bending operation support information that specifies dimensions of the workpiece to be checked for accuracy, and modifying the control data D and L, during a trial bending operation, when the dimensions of the workpiece are checked and determined not to be within a predetermined tolerance.