The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 29, 1997
Thomas F Nedbal, St. Charles, IL (US);
Hill Engineering, Inc., Villa Park, IL (US);
Abstract
A method of forming tool dies, comprising the steps of (a) forming a plurality of unitary tool blank plates by mechanically securing a low carbon steel plate portion to a tool steel plate portion with a thin layer of brazing material therebetween, and heating the secured low carbon steel plate portion, tool steel plate portion, and brazing material layer to simultaneously (1) melt the brazing material to braze the low carbon steel plate portion to the tool steel plate portion and form the unitary blank plate, and (2) harden the tool steel plate portion, (b) maintaining an inventory of the tool blank plates, (c) retrieving one of the unitary blank plates from inventory in response to a tool die order from a customer, (d) operating on the retrieved blank plate to selectively shape the blank plate into a tool die as ordered by the customer, including (1) operating on the low carbon steel plate portion wherein at least a part of the operations on the low carbon steel plate portion do not include use of carbide tools or electric discharge machines, and (2) precision machining of the tool steel plate portion using at least one of carbide tools and electric discharge machines. Variations include forming the low carbon steel plate portion in a smaller size than the tool steel plate portion prior to shaping the tool steel plate portion, remaking the tool die by cutting off the tool steel plate portion and brazing a new tool steel plate portion to the low carbon steel plate portion, and using different grades of tool steel across the tool steel plate portion to provide added durability in areas where needed.