Cambridge Enterprise Limited

Christopher Cleaver

Julian M Allwood

Omer Music

Adam Nagysochacki

Julian Allwood

Evripides G Loukaides

Adam Nagy-Sochacki

The present invention relates to methods of working sheet metal, and sheet metal working apparatus for performing such methods. Such methods include steps of providing a sheet metal workpiece having first and second surfaces opposed to each other and at least one edge, bending the workpiece to form at least a first sidewall portion defined between the edge and a basal region, the first sidewall portion thereby defining a curved fold region in the sheet metal workpiece adjacent the first sidewall portion. Following this, first anvil tool and a first forming tool are provided for contact with and constraint of the first and second surfaces of the sheet metal workpiece respectively. The forming tool and/or the anvil tool are then progressively slid along the curved fold region to cause shear material transfer in the curved fold region to further deform the curved fold region. Such methods can allow for formation of components of similar shape as made at present by deep drawing methods, but with less wastage of the starting material.

Working of sheet metal

A ring rolling process and corresponding apparatus are disclosed. A ring shaped workpiece is provided, the ring shaped workpiece having a principal axis, an inner radial surface, an outer radial surface, a first axial surface and a second axial surface. The workpiece is subjected to radial pressure between a forming rollacting on the outer radial surface and a mandrel rollacting on the inner radial surface, at a radial roll bite region. A first axial rolland a second axial rollare provided at the first axial surface and the second axial surface respectively, to subject the workpiece to axial pressure. The first and second axial rollsare provided at an angular position, measured around the workpiece and with respect to the principal axis, within &#xb1;10&#xb0; of said radial roll bite region. Multiple circumferential constraint rolls are provided around the outer radial surface or inner radial surface. In order to control the cross sectional shape of the workpiece, the mandrel rolland/or the forming rollhas a projecting portion for contact with the workpiece, the projecting portion having an axial extent which is smaller than the axial height of the workpiece, the mandrel roll and/or forming roll being axially moveable relative to the workpiece.

Ring rolling process and apparatus for ring rolling

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Christopher Cleaver