DE102004031421A1 - Cutting lines having cutting tools or punching knife - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a cutting or punching tool 1, comprising the following steps in the order given: (a) bending at least one cutting line 20 into its desired final shape, and (b) guiding a hardening agent 30 along the final shape of the web Cutting line 20, wherein a tip portion 26 of the cutting line 20 is selectively cured. Furthermore, the invention relates to cutting or punching tools 1, or cutting lines 20, which after the o. G. Process are produced.

Description

 Technical area

The The invention relates to cutting tools or punches and a method for the production of cutting tools or punching knives for punching of cardboard, leather and textiles or the like.

cardboard, in particular corrugated board, textiles and leather become large-scale usually cut by cutting tools by punching. These are used cutting tools, the desired Outlines of the finished part punched out of a raw material sheet.

One Cutting tool according to the state The technique is made in the following way: On a base plate are, usually by means of a laser, grooves in the form attached, The later should have the cut or punched workpiece. It will continue in this base plate mounting holes or other mounting options for Punzierstifte, Punching or the like attached if the finished product have corresponding elements should.

On This plate will be the cutting lines or cutting blades - in the following will for reasons the better readability only by cutting lines spoken - attached. For this purpose, an already ground and hardened Ausgangsmetallband of the Roll unwound, and using suitable tools in the desired shape bent. The starting metal band may also be in rod form. After that the prebent output metal strip becomes the baked-in grooves pushed the base plate and either by pressing or gluing with connected to the base plate.

The Cutting lines usually consist of a steel with a tough one Body, which can well withstand the bending stresses when bending in the mold, and from a cutting area hardened in the tip area, an increased wear resistance to ensure punching. In this case, the tip area can only be hardened to a certain hardness, thus the cutting line reliable to be bent around the smallest intended radius of the desired shape can. If this smallest intended radius falls below, the Cutting line so bent closer than intended, it can cause cracks or breaks especially in the hardened Tip area of the cutting line come. The maximum given usable hardness is thus significantly lower than the hardening technology and the material possible would. Therefore, the wear so produced cutting tools quite quickly and need to be replaced become. Furthermore, despite the already low curing of the tip of the smallest possible Bending radius limited to tearing or breaking the tip area to prevent the cutting line. This can be done with the o.g. Cutting tools do not punch out tight radii or corners from the starting material.

One workshop and inadequate Approach the cure of the top area is to increase the finished Place cutting tool in a water bath, leaving only the cutting area sticking out of the water. Then by hand means of an autogenous burner, the cutting area is strongly heated and with Water quenched, so that it can come to a "hardening". By such a rough workshop procedure however, cracks often occur or the punching tool warps yourself. It is also very disadvantageous that - if any - then one locally very uneven hardness and a very unevenly hardened tip area adjusts, which thus wears unevenly. Depending on skill but also the obtained hardness values are below the values of the user precured starting material, so this manual process is not for commercial production a cutting or Punching tool is suitable.

Comparable with the o.g. Cutting tools is the construction of punching blades, distinguished from the cutting tools only by their larger dimensions and thus distinguish the greater inherent rigidity. For punching blades can therefore be dispensed with a base plate. Instead, you can additionally stiffening rods or the like may be provided. Such punches are in increasing extent Automatic bending devices bent their working instructions (Bending parameter) obtained from control computers. The control computers convert or "translate" the desired geometry the punching knife or cutting lines in corresponding machine commands for the automatic bending devices. Also applies to these punching knife with respect to their problematic hardness properties and minimal bending radii and the risk of breaking or tearing the said above to the cutting lines, so that in the sequence on the for the Invention insignificant differences between cutting blades and punching knife will not be received. The invention can also be applied to the punching knife apply.

It is therefore the problem underlying the invention to provide a cutting or punching tool and a method for its manufacture len, which has a higher wear resistance than the prior art, and with which it is possible to punch out particularly narrow radii or corners of the starting material.

Summary of the invention

This Problem is solved by a method for producing a cutting or punching tool according to claim 1 or by a cutting line according to claim 12 or a Cutting or punching tool according to claim 15 solved.

Especially it will be solved by a method of manufacturing a cutting or punching tool, having the following steps in the indicated order: (a) bending at least one cutting line into its desired final shape, and (b) path controlled steering a hardener along the final shape of the cutting line, wherein a tip portion of the Cutting line selectively hardened becomes.

It is therefore proposed, first the unhardened and therefore relatively soft and less brittle cutting line in their desired final shape to bend and only then the cutting area or parts thereof to harden selectively by means of a web-controlled hardener. By the hardening of the tip area after the cutting line to its desired final shape bent is a hardness of the Peak range achievable far beyond the hardness of pre-cured unbent Cutting lines is. Furthermore, especially small bending radii achievable with precured Cutting lines could not be produced without cracking or breaking. By the track-guided The hardening process can be automatic and performed in a controlled manner become. In particular, this allows hardness parameters, such as heating temperature and cooling time over the Length of Precise set and maintain cutting line. Thus, an exactly defined hardness and depth of hardness achieved at the tip or cutting area of the cutting line and uniform hardness properties over the whole length the cutting line ensured.

Prefers the step of bending the at least one cutting line by an NC-controlled bending means based on geometry data carried out. This will be the bends that will later be the contour of the punched out Determine component, especially fast and accurate in the strip material brought in. This is particularly advantageous for punching knives, which manage without a geometry-determining base plate.

In a preferred embodiment indicates the process before the hardening step the step of introducing a groove in a base plate by means of a web-controlled engraver based on geometry data on, wherein the shape of the groove corresponds to the final shape of the cutting line. This makes the contour of the component to be punched out, especially fast and exactly in a base plate introduced, which is the cutting line stores, supports and prevents bending of the cutting line.

Farther Preferably, the method further comprises the step before the curing step inserting the Cutting line in the groove in the base plate. The curved cutting line is introduced into the likewise contour-determining groove of the base plate and thus attached to the base plate and geometrically fixed.

in the a further embodiment becomes the step of leading of the hardener by means of a web-controlled guide means performed on the basis of geometry data.

Prefers the geometry data of the web-controlled guiding means are based for the Step of leadership of the hardener on the geometric data of the web-controlled engraving means for the step of Inserting the groove or the geometry data of the NC-controlled bending means. The geometry data already for the generation of the desired cutting contour can be used thus for hardening be reused. This reduces the effort for the controlled To lead of the hardener on minimal adjustments.

Farther preferred is the web-controlled guide means and the web-controlled Engraving the same guide element. This will be for the hardening no additional Plant needed. The guide Can be used both for making the groove in the base plate as well to the leadership of the hardener be used.

In a further preferred embodiment, the curing agent is a CW laser, a CO ₂ laser, an electron gun, an induction coil or a plasma generator. The engraving agent is preferably a CW laser, a CO ₂ laser or an end mill.

Particularly preferably, the engraving agent and the curing agent are the same CW laser or the same CO ₂ laser. Thus, the engraver itself can be used as a curing agent, which in turn reduces the cost of equipment.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of exchanging an engraving optics of the CW laser or the CO ₂ laser by a hardening optics before the hardening step. In order to change the laser from engraving the groove to hardening the cutting area, optics other than engraving can be used.

The above problems are also solved by a cutting line, the after the o.g. Procedure was made.

Prefers the cutting line has a main body and a hardened tip region, which is a hardness has substantially the maximum possible service life of the used material corresponds to the cutting line.

Prefers the cutting line on a grade C60 steel, wherein the hardened Top area a use hardship from above 800 HV 0.5, preferably from above 850 HV 0.5 and more preferably of greater than 900 HV 0.5. In order to is the hardness far beyond the top range the hardness the cutting lines of the prior art. You can, for example For cutting lines made of C60 material, that of the material manufacturer possible maximum hardness of about 850 HV 0.5. When using a laser leave even values of over 900 HV 0.5, because of the small area, practically point-like heat source the deterrence is particularly fast.

The Above problems are also caused by a cutting or punching tool solved, the at least one o.g. Cutting line has.

Further preferred embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

Short description of drawing

The Invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Showing:

1 a base plate of a cutting tool with an inserted groove;

2 the base plate of the 1 with a cutting line inserted in the groove; and

3 schematically the movement of a hardening agent during curing of the cutting line used.

Description of the preferred embodiments

In The consequence of the drawings are preferred embodiments of the invention.

As in 1 shown, is in a base plate 10 by means of a (in 1 not shown) web-controlled engraving a groove 12 milled or engraved. The shape of the groove 12 corresponds to the desired cutting profile of the cutting or punching tool to be produced.

The base plate 10 is preferably a flat plate of wood, plastic or a wood material, such as pressboard, MDF or the like. The base plate could also be made of another suitable material or curved or bent for special punching or cutting tasks.

For engraving the groove 12 in the base plate 10 For example, a web-controlled engraving agent is used. For this purpose, a CW laser or a CO ₂ laser but also a conventional end mill is suitable. The power of the laser is adjusted so that a sufficient burn-in depth in the base plate 10 is achieved, but it still has enough residual thickness.

The laser or milling cutter is located in a suitable laser or milling head, which preferably NC-controlled via the base plate 10 is moved. Instead of an NC control but also a simpler control can be used. The NC control preferably controls an XYZ portal to which the laser or milling head is attached. Alternatively, an industrial robot can be used for this purpose.

The NC control guides the laser or milling head to engrave the groove 12 based on geometry data based on the geometry of the workpiece to be rejected.

In the groove 12 will, as in 2 shown, a curved cutting line 20 used and fixed, for example glued. The cutting line 20 consisting of a band-shaped metal strip with a base body 22 and a pointed cutting area 24 (Sh. 3 ). The cutting line 20 is bent in its uncured state, so that particularly small bending radii are possible without the risk of cracking.

A preferred material for the cutting line 20 is a steel grade C60, but it can also be used any other carbon steel or tool steel, which can be bent well in the unhardened band-shaped state and in the cured state has a sufficient for the punching service life. If it is desired to cure without coolant, air-hardening steel grades are the material for the cutting line 20 at.

In 3 is shown schematically the hardening process. 3 shows part of a part of the base plate 10 with inserted cutting line 20 , A hardener 30 is along the curved and still uncured cutting line 20 so along that it's on the cutting area 24 can act and at least a tip portion of the cutting area 24 hardened. The direction of movement of the Här temittels 30 is indicated by the arrow V.

The hardener 30 like the engraving medium for inserting the groove 12 be a CW or CO ₂ laser. However, depending on the desired hardening process, it can also be an electron beam generator, an induction coil or a plasma generator. Other curing agents are conceivable, which heat input into the cutting area 24 can cause the cutting line.

During curing, the hardener becomes 30 (here a laser head 30 ) Guided by means of an NC-controlled guide means and optionally pivoted that it is exactly the cutting line 30 Follow and this in their top section 26 hardened. Preferably this is done by the laser 30 generated laser beam 32 straight to the top of the cutting line 20 on. Depending on the hardener used, this requires an offset of "h" normal to the base plate and, if necessary, a twist which always leaves the hardener normal to the respectively processed tip area 26 and thus in the direction of the radius of curvature of the cutting line 20 controls. The other parameters of the hardening process, such as machining speed, heating intensity, cooling rate, are integrated into the control algorithm for the curing agent.

With inductive hardening, the rotation of the hardening agent, which is directly "from above", more precisely normal to the base plate plane, is omitted along the tip region 26 the cutting line 20 to be led.

After curing, the hardened tip area 26 the cutting line 20 for a grade C60 steel, a service hardness of greater than 800 HV 0.5 or preferably greater than 850 HV 0.5. When using a specially pulsed CW or CO ₂ laser, hardness values of up to 900 HV 0.5 or more can be achieved due to the almost punctiform and thus locally very limited heat input.

Preferred may be used as a curing agent 30 the same equipment used for the engraving process. The laser used, for example, can also be used for curing. If necessary, only the operating parameters need to be adjusted. It is also possible to swing optics into the beam path of the laser. For example, the optics for engraving the groove 12 be replaced by a special hardness optics.

Of course, but also the machining head for curing can be exchanged and a special laser for curing can be used. The curing process can also be done on another workstation, since the control of the curing agent with existing control program for the production of grooves 12 only associated with low computational effort.

It is, especially when hardening on a separate processing station, of course, all while hardening desired measures to take or set special conditions. This may for example be working in a protective gas atmosphere or quenching with a special medium. It can in the Case of quenching the quenching medium either in the hardness head be integrated, or it may be a second processing head in a corresponding Distance from the first head will be used for quenching.

The Control data required for NC or path control can from the engraving process for the groove automatically calculates existing geometry data become.

The takeover The geometry data also applies to the case of the above-mentioned punching knife, as well as the geometry for the NC-controlled bending machines already in electronic form and by means of a relatively simple "translation program" or a transformation program for the Movements of the hardener can be transformed.

Another form of cutting tools 1 The type mentioned above also uses cutting lines 20 or punching knife, not on a flat base plate 10 are attached, but on a circular cylindrical drum or roller. The material to be cut is then pulled through between this roller and a counter-roller and is cut or embossed at designated locations.

Of course, the present invention is also applicable to this type of tool. Also preferred in this case, the production of the grooves 12 performed on the drum or roller by means of a device which is controlled by an NC program, so that by appropriate adaptation of the NC program also a curing agent along the cutting line can be performed. It can - if available - on the data for the production of the grooves 12 be resorted to.

Another advantage of the invention is that not only the cutting lines, but all the other in-mold other tools such as Punzierstifte, punches perforating / perforating knife, combination lines / combination knives and the like. More can also be selectively cured. In this way, these elements are brought to the same level of hardness as the tip area 26 the cutting line 20 , reducing the life and set-up times of the cutting or punching tools 1 optimized and thus the corresponding costs are minimized.

1

punching or cutting tools

10

baseplate

12

groove

20

cutting line

22

body

24

cutting area

26

hardened tip area

30

hardener or laser

32

laser beam

Claims (15)

Method for producing a cutting or punching tool ( 1 ), comprising the following steps in the order given: a. Bending at least one cutting line ( 20 ) in their desired final form; b. Rail-guided guiding of a hardening agent ( 30 ) along the final shape of the cutting line ( 20 ), whereby a peak area ( 26 ) of the cutting line ( 20 ) is selectively cured. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of bending the at least one cutting line ( 20 ) is performed by means of an NC-controlled bending means based on geometry data. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, before the hardening step further comprising the step of introducing a groove ( 12 ) in a base plate ( 10 ) by means of a web-controlled engraving means on the basis of geometric data, wherein the shape of the groove ( 12 ) the final shape of the cutting line ( 20 ) corresponds. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of inserting the cutting line before the hardening step. 20 ) into the groove ( 12 ) in the base plate ( 10 ). A method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the step of guiding the hardener ( 30 ) is performed by means of a path-controlled guide means on the basis of geometry data. Method according to claim 5, wherein the geometric data of the sheet-guided guide means for the step of guiding the hardening agent ( 20 ) on the geometric data of the web-controlled engraving means for the step of inserting the groove ( 12 ) or the geometry data of the NC controlled bending means. Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the path-controlled guide means and the web-controlled Engraving agent is the same guide element. A method according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the curing agent is a CW laser, a CO ₂ laser, an electron gun, an induction coil or a plasma generator. A method according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the engraving means is a CW laser, a CO ₂ laser or an end mill. A method according to claim 9, wherein the engraving agent and the curing agent are the same CW laser or the same CO ₂ laser. The method of claim 10, before the curing step, further comprising the step of replacing an engraving optics of the CW laser or the CO ₂ laser by a hardening optics. Cutting line ( 20 ) prepared by a process according to claims 1-10. Cutting line ( 20 ) according to claim 12, comprising: a) a basic body ( 22 ); and b) a hardened tip region ( 26 ), having a hardness substantially equal to the maximum possible working hardness of the material used in the cutting line ( 20 ) corresponds. Cutting line according to claim 13, comprising a steel of the grade C60, the hardened tip region ( 26 ) has a service hardness of more than 800 HV 0.5, preferably greater than 850 HV 0.5 and particularly preferably greater than 900 HV 0.5. Cutting or punching tool ( 1 ) comprising at least one cutting line ( 20 ) according to claims 12-14.