Hot stamp cell

Abstract

A method of forming a finished component in a hot stamp cell having a press to form a blank in to a finished component. The press has a form tool and a piercing tool and the method includes the steps of inserting a blank in to the form tool in a first metallurgical condition, operating the press to close the form tool and form the blank, dwelling the press with the form tool closed while the blank changes from the one metallurgical condition to another metallurgical condition, and maintaining the blank within the form tool while operating the piecing tool when the other condition is attained.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a finished component in a hot stamp cell having a press to form a blank in to a finished component, said press having a form tool and a piercing tool and said method comprising the steps of inserting a blank in to said form tool in a first metallurgical condition, operating said press to close said form tool and form said blank, dwelling said press with said form tool closed while said blank changes from said one metallurgical condition to another metallurgical condition, and maintaining said blank within said form tool while operating said piecing tool when said other condition is attained. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first metallurgical condition is attained at an elevated temperature and said other metallurgical condition is attained at a lower temperature than said elevated temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said blank is heated in a furnace to above the AC3 temperature prior to insertion in said form tool. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said component is formed from carbon steel and the change from one metallurgical condition to another is a change from the austenite phase to the martensite phase. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said change is induced by cooling said blank in said form tool. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein said form tool has a pair of forms with opposed faces of the forms defining the finished form of the blank, each of said forms being supported on a respective one of a pair of die shoes of said press with a compressible cylinder assembly interposed between one of said forms and the die plate on which it is supported and said method includes the steps of dwelling said press prior to compressing said cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein said press compresses said cylinder assembly to attain operation of said piercing tool. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said compressible cylinder assembly biases said one form away from said die plate with sufficient force to form said blank prior to compression of said cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein continued operation of said press collapses said cylinder assembly to move said die shoes toward one another and thereby move a piercing tool in to engagement with said blank. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said press is dwelled for a period of between 6 seconds and 10 seconds. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said press is dwelled for 8 seconds.