A method of cutting thick plate material, said method comprising the steps of supporting said material on elongated cutting means co-extending with an intended cut in said material and aligned therewith, scoring said material along said cut to a depth at least equal to the surface hardness of said material, and cutting said material to a further depth along said scoring, said further depth being less than the thickness of said material. A method of slitting thick plate material, said method comprising the steps of supporting said material on a pair of generally parallel knife edges co-extending with an intended cut and aligned therewith, scoring said material along each of said knife edges respectively, and slitting said material along each of said knife edges so as to coincide with said scoring. Also disclosed is a method for countering diminishment of cutting forces from bowing of certain components of the cutting apparatus.
This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending co-assigned application entitled EDGING AND SLITTING APPARATUS AND METHOD filed July 24, 1968, Ser. No. 747,219, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,657,953.
A control apparatus and method for progressively fracturing a workpiece from a material sheet in a press in which a ram is progressively advanced through the thickness of the material sheet in discrete steps, each of the discrete steps including an advance of the ram into the material sheet a predetermined distance less than the total thickness of the sheet, a stopping of the advance of the ram, a relief of the pressure built up in the press due to the pressurized advance of the ram and a subsequent advance of the ram through the material sheet. A distance measuring transducer generates an output indicative of the position of the piston of the cylinder and the ram during movement of the ram. A controller, in response to a stored control program and the output of the distance measuring transducer, controls the operation of fluid valves to supply pressurized fluid to the cylinder to reciprocate the ram. The controller controls pressure regulating valves to supply fluid at a plurality of discrete pressures to the cylinder throughout each cycle of operation of the press.
A control apparatus and method for progressively fracturing a workpiece from a material sheet in a press in which a ram is progressively advanced through the thickness of the material sheet in discrete steps, each of the discrete steps including an advance of the ram into the material sheet a predetermined distance less than the total thickness of the sheet, a stopping of the advance of the ram, a relief of the pressure built up in the press due to the pressurized advance of the ram and a subsequent advance of the ram through the material sheet. A distance measuring transducer generates an output indicative of the position of the piston of the cylinder and the ram during movement of the ram. A controller, in response to a stored control program and the output of the distance measuring transducer, controls the operation of fluid valves to supply pressurized fluid to the cylinder to reciprocate the ram. The controller controls pressure regulating valves to supply fluid at a plurality of discrete pressures to the cylinder throughout each cycle of operation of the press.
A control apparatus and method for progressively fracturing a work piece from a material sheet in a mechanical press in which the separation distance between an upper die and a lower die is varied in discrete steps as an upper platen advances the upper die toward the lower die, each discrete step occurring within the thickness of the material being stamped. Varying the separation distance includes a motion opposite to the relative direction movement of the upper platen at one or more predetermined distances to create a controlled release of stored forces in the dies and press frame. A distance measuring transducer generates an output indicative of the position of the upper die in relation to the lower die. A controller, in response to a stored control program and the output of the distance measuring transducer, controls the operation of fluid valves to supply pressurized fluid to one or more cylinders coupled between one platen and one die to create the relative separation motion between the upper die and the lower die. The controller also controls a pressure regulating valve to supply fluid at a plurality of discrete pressures to the cylinder or cylinders throughout the operation of the press. The controller alternately controls slidable wedges disposed between a plate fixed to one platen and a movable plate fixed to one die to perform the relative separation motion.
