Apparatus for use in pointing wire or rod comprising a die holder having a generally wedge shaped upwardly opening die receiving recess containing a pair of split wedge shaped wire forming dies. The dies move in sliding engagement with walls of the die holder toward each other and into working engagement with a wire positioned therebetween when pulling force is applied to the wire in an axial direction and relative to the die holder whereby to reduce the cross sectional area of an elongated portion of the wire spaced from its ends. Reversal of the direction of force applied to the wire causes the dies to separate or move out of engagement with the wire. A point is formed on the wire by cutting it transversely of its axis to expose a free end of the elongated portion.
An apparatus and method for thermally forming a surgical suture tip from a length of unfinished surgical suture material having a varying cross-section. The thermally formed surgical suture tip has a generally uniform cross-section along its length, and the varying cross-section corresponds to a distribution of different cross-sectional sizes along the length of the unfinished surgical suture material. A first heating die has a first face with a first groove therein for receiving a portion of the length of the unfinished surgical suture material, and a second heating die has a second face with a second groove therein. The first and second grooves extend along a common axis. At least one mechanical actuator is provided for moving the first face of the first heating die against the second face of the second heating die and for contacting the first and second grooves against an outer surface of the unfinished surgical suture material. The first and second grooves define a singular heating die opening when the first face of the first heating die is positioned against the second face of the second heating die. The singular heating die opening has a constant cross-section perpendicular to the common axis. The constant cross-section is smaller than an average cross-sectional size represented by the distribution and conforms in size to the generally uniform cross-section.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of parts, such as spade-type boring bits, from a continuous stock material. Thus, the various steps of the forming method of the present invention can be performed to predetermined portions of the continuous stock material, prior to separating the continuous stock material into a number of discrete parts. The efficiency of the forming process is enhanced since individual parts need not be individually transported and oriented during the forming operations. By not requiring that the individual parts be separately transported and oriented during the forming operations, the quality of the parts formed by the forming method and apparatus of the present invention will also be enhanced since such separate transportation and orientation of individual parts generally increases the opportunities for misalignment and contributes to poor tolerance control during the manufacturing process.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of parts, such as spade-type boring bits, from a continuous stock material. Thus, the various steps of the forming method of the present invention can be performed to predetermined portions of the continuous stock material prior to separating the continuous stock material into discrete parts, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the forming process. The present invention also provides an improved forge for forming portions of the continuous stock material into parts having a predetermined shape. The forge can be designed to provide a clearance region proximate the forward end of the ram to permit slight flexing of the forward end of the ram in a radially outward direction during forging operations. The forge can also include a lubrication system for lubricating its various components. In addition, the forge can incrementally rotate the ram after one or more parts have been forged. By repeating the incremental rotation of the ram, the forge will eventually rotate the ram a full 360.degree.. An improved forging die is also provided which includes a back surface having a conical medial section and a pair of conical lateral sections that are recessed relative to the medial section such that forces will principally be applied to the medial section during forging operations.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of parts, such as spade-type boring bits, from a continuous stock material. Thus, the various steps of the forming method of the present invention can be performed to predetermined portions of the continuous stock material prior to separating the continuous stock material into discrete parts, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the forming process. The present invention also provides an improved forge for forming portions of the continuous stock material into parts having a predetermined shape. The forge can be designed to provide a clearance region proximate the forward end of the ram to permit slight flexing of the forward end of the ram in a radially outward direction during forging operations. The forge can also include a lubrication system for lubricating its various components. In addition, the forge can incrementally rotate the ram after one or more parts have been forged. By repeating the incremental rotation of the ram, the forge will eventually rotate the ram a full 360.degree.. An improved forging die is also provided which includes a back surface having a conical medial section and a pair of conical lateral sections that are recessed relative to the medial section such that forces will principally be applied to the medial section during forging operations.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of parts, such as spade-type boring bits, from a continuous stock material. Thus, the various steps of the forming method of the present invention can be performed to predetermined portions of the continuous stock material prior to separating the continuous stock material into discrete parts, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the forming process. The present invention also provides an improved forge for forming portions of the continuous stock material into parts having a predetermined shape. The forge can be designed to provide a clearance region proximate the forward end of the ram to permit slight flexing of the forward end of the ram in a radially outward direction during forging operations. The forge can also include a lubrication system for lubricating its various components. In addition, the forge can incrementally rotate the ram after one or more parts have been forged. By repeating the incremental rotation of the ram, the forge will eventually rotate the ram a full 360.degree.. An improved forging die is also provided which includes a back surface having a conical medial section and a pair of conical lateral sections that are recessed relative to the medial section such that forces will principally be applied to the medial section during forging operations.
