Century Manufacturing Company

Roger K Heath

A punch and die assembly including a punch having an outer surface conforming generally to a configuration desired for a sheet metal part to be produced and adapted for rectilinear movement in a given direction between retracted and extended positions, the punch having a rear portion with a cross-section of given width and a front portion with a cross-section of predetermined width greater than the given width; and a die body defining a cavity comprising an outer portion defining an opening for receiving the punch and an inner portion communicating with the outer portion. The inner portion has a cross-section with substantially uniformly spaced side walls dimensioned so as to closely accommodate the front portion of the punch and a sheet metal workpiece, and to provide between said rear portion of the punch and the side walls a gap greater than twice the thickness of the workpiece when the punch is in its extended position within the outer portion of said cavity. In addition, the inner portion of the cavity extends transversely to the given direction and beyond each of the side walls so as to form reentrant leg portions of the die body, the leg portions terminating with at least one of the side walls. The reentrant leg portions squeeze the workpiece at the end of the punch stroke to create high precision bends.

Punch and die assembly for bending operations

A die for use with a punch for bending flat metal stock and including a body defining a support surface adapted to support a piece of flat metal stock, a cavity disposed in a path of movement of the punch and intersecting and projecting below the support surface, and a stop surface forming a bottom wall of the cavity and having first and second surface portions; and a mounting retained by the body. A first elongated die bar is supported by the mouting for both translational and pivotal movement on a first axis in the cavity on one side of the path of movement; the first die bar defining upper and lower surfaces having a wedge shaped cross-section. A second elongated die bar also is supported by the mounting for both translational and pivotal movement on a second axis in the cavity on an opposite side of the path of movement; the second die bar defining upper and lower surfaces having a wedge shaped cross-section. This combination eliminates scoring during the bending of flat metal stock.

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Uxbridge, MA, United States of America

Roger K Heath