EP3088096B1 - Devices and method for the pressure forming of connector bridges between parts of a board-shaped workpiece - Google Patents

Description

• mit zwei Werkzeugteilen, welche beim Druckumformen des Verbindungsstegs einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten des Verbindungsstegs zugeordnet sind und welche relativ zueinander längs einer Hubachse bewegbar sind, die beim Druckumformen des Verbindungsstegs in Querrichtung des Verbindungsstegs verläuft,
• wobei die Werkzeugteile an längs der Hubachse einander zugewandten Seiten jeweils mit einem Umformorgan versehen sind und freie Enden der Umformorgane mit Stirnseiten längs der Hubachse zueinander hinweisen,
• wobei jedes der Umformorgane eine Werkstückseite und eine Stegseite aufweist und beim Druckumformen des Verbindungsstegs die Werkstückseite der Umformorgane ein und demselben Werkstückteil zugewandt und die Stegseite der Umformorgane von diesem Werkstückteil abgewandt ist und
• wobei die Werkzeugteile längs der Hubachse mit einem Bearbeitungshub aufeinander zu in eine Hub-Endposition bewegbar sind, in welcher die Stirnseiten der Umformorgane längs der Hubachse einen Abstand voneinander aufweisen, der beim Druckumformen des Verbindungsstegs kleiner ist als die Erstreckung des umzuformenden Verbindungsstegs längs der Hubachse.

The invention relates to a forming tool and a machine tool provided with such a forming tool for pressure forming a connecting web which attaches to workpiece parts at its ends and which connects the workpiece parts with one another that are present as machining products of a separating machining of plate-like workpieces, in particular of sheet metal, and which each have a separating surface in the transverse direction of which the connecting web runs

• with two tool parts which are assigned to opposite sides of the connecting web during pressure forming of the connecting web and which are movable relative to one another along a stroke axis which runs in the transverse direction of the connecting web during pressure forming of the connecting web,
• wherein the tool parts are each provided with a shaping element on sides facing one another along the stroke axis and free ends of the shaping elements with end faces point towards one another along the stroke axis,
• wherein each of the shaping elements has a workpiece side and a web side and, during pressure forming of the connecting web, the workpiece side of the shaping elements faces one and the same workpiece part and the web side of the shaping elements faces away from this workpiece part and
• wherein the tool parts can be moved along the stroke axis with a machining stroke towards one another into a stroke end position in which the end faces of the shaping elements are at a distance from one another along the stroke axis which, during pressure forming of the connecting web, is smaller than the extent of the connecting web to be reshaped along the stroke axis.

The invention also relates to a method for pressure forming a connecting web of the type mentioned, carried out by means of the above forming tool and / or by means of the above machine tool.

• indem die beiden Werkstückteile zunächst unter Erstellen einer Trennfläche an jedem der beiden Werkstückteile und unter Stehenlassen wenigstens eines Verbindungsstegs unvollständig voneinander getrennt werden, der an seinen Enden an den Werkstückteilen ansetzt, der die Werkstückteile miteinander verbindet und der in Querrichtung der Trennflächen verläuft,
• indem nach dem unvollständigen Trennen der Werkstückteile der Verbindungssteg druckumgeformt wird und
• indem die beiden Werkstückteile anschließend durch Lösen der durch den umgeformten Verbindungssteg hergestellten Verbindung vollständig voneinander getrennt werden.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for processing plate-like workpieces, in particular for processing sheet metal, in the context of which two workpiece parts are separated from one another,

• in that the two workpiece parts are initially incompletely separated from each other while creating a separating surface on each of the two workpiece parts and leaving at least one connecting web that attaches at its ends to the workpiece parts, which connects the workpiece parts to one another and which runs in the transverse direction of the separating surfaces,
• by pressure-forming the connecting web after the workpiece parts have been incompletely separated and
• in that the two workpiece parts are then completely separated from one another by loosening the connection established by the deformed connecting web.

Devices and methods with the aforementioned features are known from U.S. 5,655,401 A . This publication discloses a forming tool which is used to reduce the cross section of connecting webs via which sheet metal parts produced by punching processing of a sheet metal are connected to a scrap skeleton surrounding the sheet metal parts. The connecting webs, also called "micro-joints", establish a temporary connection between the sheet metal parts and the skeleton and ensure that the sheet metal parts and the skeleton can be handled as a unit during and after the punching processing of the sheet metal. So that the connecting webs do not break under the effect of the loads occurring when the sheet metal parts and the residual lattice are handled together, the connecting webs are to be dimensioned sufficiently large. At the same time, after handling the sheet metal parts and the skeleton together, it must be possible to remove the sheet metal parts from the skeleton with little effort. For this purpose, the cross-section of the connecting webs between the sheet metal parts and the scrap skeleton is reduced by means of the previously known forming tool. The previously known forming tool comprises a forming punch with a beveled punch tip and a forming die with a flat support surface and a die recess embedded in the flat support surface. The forming die is the one who Forming die assigned to the other side of a connecting web to be machined. The forming die is moved in the direction of the forming die with a machining stroke carried out along a stroke axis. The forming die acts on the connecting web, which is arranged between the forming die and the forming die, with the beveled die tip. As a result of the impact of the punch tip, the connecting web is squeezed while reducing the thickness of the connecting web between the forming die and the forming die and also bent over an edge that is formed on the forming die by the support surface and a lateral boundary surface of the die recess running parallel to the stroke axis. As a result, a fracture zone with a reduced cross-section compared to the rest of the connecting web is generated on the connecting web. If all connecting webs between the sheet metal parts of the processed sheet metal and the scrap skeleton surrounding the sheet metal parts have been pressure-formed in the manner described, shaking the unit of sheet metal parts and scrap skeleton is sufficient to destroy the connecting webs at the fracture zones and thereby detach the sheet metal parts from the scrap skeleton . In the area where the connecting webs join the sheet metal parts, a burr remains which protrudes from the surface of the sheet metal parts and which has to be removed by machine.

DE 10 2012 011 767 A1 discloses an apparatus and method for dicing a workpiece. According to this publication, a workpiece to be cut is acted upon on both sides by a cutting edge of a notching tool that is V-shaped in cross section. The cutting edges of the notching tool are moved towards one another along a movement axis. The tips of the cutting edges lie opposite one another along the axis of movement and penetrate the workpiece on the respectively assigned side of the workpiece, creating a notch geometry with a V-shaped cross-section, so that a residual thickness of the workpiece remains between the tips of the cutting edges. In a subsequent work step, the workpiece is sheared along the previously created notch geometries and thus divided.

U.S. 4,362,078 A relates to a device and a method for the punching processing of plate-like workpieces. A punch tool includes two Punch punches which are arranged on both sides of a workpiece to be processed and each of which has a raised circumferential edge with a V-shaped cross section. The tips of the circumferential edges of the punch lie opposite one another along a stroke axis of the punch. In a first work step, the punches are moved so far towards each other along the stroke axis that their circumferential edges penetrate the workpiece in question and create a V-shaped workpiece groove on the assigned workpiece sides, but do not yet create a cutout on the workpiece. A cutout is produced in a subsequent work step by shearing the workpiece along the V-shaped workpiece grooves.

The object of the present invention is to provide devices and methods that make it possible to completely separate workpiece parts that are incompletely separated from one another and connected to one another via connecting webs, which are present as machining products of a separating machining of plate-like workpieces, in such a way that no or at least a slight Post-processing of the workpiece parts is required.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the forming tool and the machine tool according to claims 1 and 12 and by the methods according to claims 14, 15 and 17.

Use is made of a forming tool which, due to the geometry of the forming elements provided on the tool parts of the forming tool, during pressure forming of a connecting web that has remained between two workpiece parts at the end or ends of the connecting web creates a fracture zone which is such that after the breaking of the connecting web no traces, or at most only slight traces, of the connecting web remain on the workpiece part or parts. During the pressure forming of a connecting web, the forming elements of the tool parts dip into the latter and displace the material of the connecting web in the process. Due to the geometry of the shaping elements of the shaping tool, the material of the connecting web plasticized by the shaping tool is displaced away from the workpiece part or parts adjoining the connecting web. As a result, the In the course of the forming process, the material of the connecting web plasticized in the course of the forming process does not leave any traces or at most only slight traces on the workpiece part or parts concerned. Burrs formed on the connecting web are removed together with the connecting web and consequently do not impair the quality of the parting surface on the workpiece part or parts. According to the invention, the shaping elements on the tool parts of the shaping tool are offset from one another in the transverse direction of the stroke axis. This results in a gap between the forming members on both sides, which favors an oblique breaking off of the connecting web after forming. An inclined fracture surface on a workpiece part can, for example, be desirable in a case in which an inclined surface is also produced by machining the edges of the workpiece part, to which the inclined fracture surface on the workpiece part can then be matched.

Depending on the application, for example depending on the dimensioning of the width of the connecting web on the one hand and the width of the forming elements on the other hand, the tool parts of the forming tool according to the invention for forming a connecting web perform a single machining stroke or several successive machining strokes.

After the pressure forming of a connecting web, the deformed end of the connecting web only has a relatively small cross section, which is dimensioned in such a way that the connection of the connecting web to the adjacent workpiece part with little effort, for example by moving the machined workpiece to and fro, is at least almost completely can be solved without burrs. Regardless of this, the connecting web can be dimensioned before the pressure forming in such a way that it creates a load-bearing connection between the workpiece parts in question.

As workpiece parts, good parts can be connected to one another, but also one or more good parts to a waste part, for example to a scrap skeleton, by connecting webs. The connecting webs can, for example, on straight or curved edges, but also on corners of each other place connected workpiece parts. In the interest of the longest possible service life of the forming tool, the connecting webs should be aligned with respect to the forming members of the forming tool in such a way that the connecting webs face the forming members along the stroke axis with surfaces and not with edges. In the event of incomplete separation of the workpiece parts, torsion of the connecting webs about their longitudinal axis must therefore be avoided.

Also in the interest of optimizing the service life of the forming tool according to the invention, material particles that arise, for example, as chips during the pressure forming of a connecting web, can be removed from the processing point. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the tool parts of the forming tool according to the invention is provided with a corresponding suction device. The removal of material particles from the processing point also prevents the material particles from leaving traces on the workpiece parts to be separated from one another and thereby reducing the quality of the workpiece processing.

On the machine tool according to the invention, the tool parts of the forming tool according to the invention are arranged in tool holders, which are provided on opposite sides of the connecting web to be formed or the workpiece parts connected to one another by the connecting web to be formed and which can be moved relative to one another along the stroke axis of the tool parts under numerical control. In addition, there can be the possibility of rotating the tool holders together with the tool parts fixed to them about the lifting axis. The workpiece previously machined to be parting usually rests on a conventional workpiece support of the machine tool. A relative movement of the workpiece parts and the connecting webs on the one hand and the tool holders of the machine tool on the other hand, parallel to the plate plane of the machined workpiece, positions the connecting webs with respect to the tool parts of the forming tool held in the tool holders for machining.

During the forming process, a connecting web to be formed is pressurized on both sides by the forming members of the tool parts of the forming tool according to the invention. The line along which the shaping elements dip at one end of the connecting web can run in the extension of a separating surface that was created on the adjacent workpiece part during the creation of the connecting web, but it can also be set back from this separating surface into the interior of the workpiece part . In the latter case, even if small remnants of the connecting bar remain on the workpiece part when the connecting bar is separated from the workpiece part, it is ensured that no remnants of the connecting bar protrude beyond the parting surface created on the workpiece part when the connecting bar was created. If necessary, the shaping elements overlap with a workpiece part, preferably in the order of magnitude of tenths of a millimeter.

The forming method according to the invention is part of the cutting method according to the invention and also part of the machining method according to the invention, in the course of which the separating method according to the invention and additionally a further workpiece machining are carried out. Within the scope of the machining method according to the invention, the forming tool according to the invention can be used to shape the connecting web (s) in a manner that is matched to the workpiece machining provided in addition to the separating machining. In particular, there is the possibility, when reshaping the connecting web or webs, to generate geometries on a workpiece part such as are produced in the context of the additional workpiece machining on the remaining separating surface of the workpiece part in question.

Special embodiments of the invention according to the independent patent claims emerge from the dependent patent claims 2 to 11, 13 and 16.

According to claim 2, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the forming tool according to the invention that at least one of the tool parts has a support surface running essentially perpendicular to the stroke axis, from which the forming element of this tool part to the other Tool part protrudes. During the forming process, the support surface forms an abutment for the connecting web to be formed and thereby prevents undesired deformation of the processed connecting web.

Different geometries can be used for the shaping elements of the tool parts of the shaping tool according to the invention.

According to claim 3, at least one of the shaping members has a triangular cross-section or a trapezoidal cross-section in a sectional plane running parallel to the stroke axis. According to patent claim 4, a design of the forming tool according to the invention is preferred in which the forming element of one of the tool parts has a triangular cross-section and the forming element of the other tool part has a trapezoidal cross-section. The end face of a forming element with a triangular cross-section is in itself linear. To increase the service life, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, such a shaping element can be provided with a slight flattening or rounding on the triangular tip forming the end face of the shaping element. In contrast to a shaping element with a triangular cross-section, a shaping element with a trapezoidal cross-section has a flat end face. Cross-sections which deviate from the trapezoidal shape and which form a flat end face on the respective shaping element are also conceivable according to the invention.

Forming elements with a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section are provided in a development of the invention in that the forming element of a tool part is formed by a free end of the tool part provided with an inner cavity, preferably an inner cone (claim 5). During the pressure forming of a connecting web, material of the connecting web can flow off into the interior of the cavity formed, for example, by the inner cone. This reduces the resistance which the connecting web opposes to processing by the forming tool according to the invention. In a further development of the invention, at the transition between the end face of the respective forming element and the inner cone a radius or a bevel can be provided. The radius and the bevel ensure, if necessary, that the reshaped connecting web does not break at this point during the final separation of the workpiece parts but rather directly at the attachment of the connecting web to the adjacent workpiece part.

During the pressure forming of the connecting web and the associated immersion of the forming elements of the forming tool according to the invention at at least one end of the connecting web, a separating surface is created on the workpiece side by the forming elements. By appropriately designing the shaping elements, it is possible to influence the nature of the separating surface produced by the shaping elements. If a shaping element has a sharp edge, the shaping element produces a smooth and thus high-quality separating surface.

In the case of the inventive design according to claim 6, it is provided that at least one of the shaping elements on the workpiece side runs along the stroke axis parallel to the separating surface or at an angle to the separating surface on that workpiece part to which the workpiece side of the shaping element is facing during pressure shaping of the connecting web. If the workpiece side of a forming element is parallel to the separating surface on the workpiece part in question, the separating surface created by means of the forming element on the workpiece part in question also runs parallel to the separating surface of the workpiece part created before the pressure forming of the connecting web. If the workpiece side of the forming element runs at an angle to the parting surface on the workpiece part in question, which was already created before the forming of the connecting web, the same applies to the parting surface generated on the workpiece part by means of the forming member. According to the invention, a separating surface that runs parallel to the separating surface on the workpiece part in question is generated by means of the shaping element in particular when the separating surface generated by means of the shaping element extends as an extension of the separating surface already present on the workpiece part. The creation of a separating surface inclined at an angle with respect to the already existing separating surface of the workpiece part by means of the shaping element is, according to the invention, for example in cases provided, in which, before or after the forming of the connecting web, the existing separating surface on the workpiece part is formed by additional edge processing of the workpiece part and is beveled in the process. With a suitable choice of the angle between the workpiece side of the forming element and the already existing separating surface of the workpiece part, the inclined surface generated on the workpiece by means of the forming element is aligned with the inclined surface that is created as part of the additional edge processing of the workpiece part.

According to claim 7, the forming tool according to the invention is designed in such a way that the forming element of one of the tool parts on the workpiece part in question creates a separating surface that runs parallel to the existing separating surface of the workpiece part, while the forming element of the other tool part creates a separating surface that is at an angle opposite the already existing separation surface of the workpiece part.

If a connecting web establishes a connection between two workpiece parts provided as good parts, the connecting web must be separated from both workpiece parts with as little residue as possible.

Claim 8 relates to a design of the forming tool according to the invention which is provided for this purpose and which makes it possible to form a connecting web at the same time at several points spaced apart from one another along the connecting web. Each of the reshaping points on the connecting web is processed by two organ sections, one organ section being part of the shaping organ on one workpiece part and the other organ section being part of the shaping organ on the other workpiece part of the shaping tool according to the invention.

To form organ sections that are assigned to different processing points on a connecting web, in the case of the invention, different possibilities for the structural design of the shaping elements on the tool parts of the shaping tool according to the invention are used.

According to patent claim 9, the shaping elements on the two tool parts of the shaping tool according to the invention run in a circumferential direction and in particular in an arc-shaped manner, preferably along a circular arc, around the stroke axis. The extension of the shaping elements in the circumferential direction can be dimensioned in such a way that the shaping elements come to lie at several points of the connecting web at the same time when a connecting web is shaped. An arc-shaped, in particular a circular course of the deforming elements offers the possibility of arranging the fracture zone at which the connecting web is to break after the deformation on the workpiece part adjoining the connecting web in an area that is opposite to that on this workpiece part before the connecting web is deformed created parting surface is set back into the interior of the workpiece part. A circular course of the shaping elements is also advantageous insofar as by simply rotating the tool parts around a positioning axis concentric with the shaping elements, different organ sections of the shaping elements can be assigned to one and the same processing point and / or one and the same organ sections to different machining points. The successive use of different organ sections of a forming organ is particularly recommended because of the associated equalization of tool wear.

According to claim 10, in a further preferred embodiment of the forming tool according to the invention, at least one of the forming members is designed to be endless in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, in the case of the invention, shaping elements segmented in the circumferential direction are also conceivable.

On the machine tool according to the invention according to claim 13, the machining stroke to be carried out for pressure forming a connecting web is controlled in a force-dependent manner. Claim 11 relates to a design of the forming tool according to the invention, which enables a force-dependent control of the machining stroke of the tool parts of the forming tool. A mutual support of the tool parts effective along the stroke axis while bypassing the pressure-formed connecting web is implemented in a preferred embodiment of the forming tool according to the invention by at least one of the Tool parts has a portal-like shape and engages over the connecting web to be formed while it is being processed. The portal supports of the relevant tool part can be placed on the other tool part laterally next to the connecting web at the end of the stroke position of the two tool parts. The shaping element can be arranged on the tool part or parts provided with at least one projection between the portal supports.

In a preferred embodiment of the separation method according to the invention, it is evidenced by patent claim 16 that when machining a plate-like workpiece from an elastically deformable material, the at least one connecting web is created as a solid body joint and is resilient in the transverse direction of the parting surfaces of the workpiece parts connected to one another by the connecting web. If such a connecting web is deformed by means of the forming tool according to the invention and pressurized at two points spaced apart from one another along the connecting web, in particular at both opposite ends of the connecting web, the area of the connecting web located between the two contact points of the forming tool can be made use of the elasticity of the connecting web be compressed. As a result, only a relatively small amount of force has to be applied to reshape the connecting web.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of exemplary schematic representations.

Figur 1

eine Werkzeugmaschine für die Blechbearbeitung mit einer Schneidstation und einer Umformstation,

Figur 2

über Verbindungsstege miteinander verbundene Blechteile, erzeugt durch die Bearbeitung einer Blechtafel an der Werkzeugmaschine gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

ein Umformwerkzeug erster Bauart zum Einsatz an der Umformstation der Werkzeugmaschine gemäß Figur 1,

Figuren 4 bis 9

Darstellungen zur Veranschaulichung der Funktionsweise des Umformwerkzeugs gemäß Figur 3 beim Umformen von zwischen zwei Blechteilen vorgesehenen Verbindungsstegen,

Figuren 10a, 10b, 10c

die Oberwerkzeuge weiterer Bauarten eines Umformwerkzeugs zum Einsatz an der Umformstation der Werkzeugmaschine gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 11

eine Darstellung zur Veranschaulichung der Funktionsweise des Umformwerkzeugs gemäß Figur 10a,

Figur 12

eine Darstellung zur Veranschaulichung der Funktionsweise des Umformwerkzeugs gemäß Figur 10b und des Umformwerkzeugs gemäß Figur 10c,

Figur 13

eine Variante des Umformwerkzeugs gemäß Figur 3 zur Verwendung bei kraftabhängiger Steuerung eines von dem Umformwerkzeug ausgeführten Bearbeitungshubs und

Figur 14

zwei über einen Verbindungssteg miteinander verbundene Blechteile während einer Kantenbearbeitung der Blechteile.

Show it:

Figure 1

a machine tool for sheet metal processing with a cutting station and a forming station,

Figure 2

Sheet metal parts connected to one another via connecting webs, produced by machining a sheet metal on the machine tool according to Figure 1 ,

Figure 3

a forming tool of the first type for use at the forming station of the machine tool according to FIG Figure 1 ,

Figures 4 to 9

Representations to illustrate the functioning of the forming tool according to Figure 3 when forming connecting webs between two sheet metal parts,

Figures 10a, 10b, 10c

the upper tools of other types of a forming tool for use at the forming station of the machine tool according to FIG Figure 1 ,

Figure 11

a representation to illustrate the functioning of the forming tool according to FIG Figure 10a ,

Figure 12

a representation to illustrate the functioning of the forming tool according to FIG Figure 10b and the forming tool according to Figure 10c ,

Figure 13

a variant of the forming tool according to Figure 3 for use with force-dependent control of a machining stroke carried out by the forming tool and

Figure 14

two sheet metal parts connected to one another via a connecting web during edge processing of the sheet metal parts.

According to Figure 1 a machine tool 1 is designed as a punch-laser combination machine. A machine frame 2 of the machine tool 1 has a C-shape and has an upper frame leg 3 and a lower frame leg 4. At the free ends of the upper frame leg 3 and the lower frame leg 4, a laser cutting station 5 and a forming station 6 are provided.

The laser cutting station 5 comprises a laser cutting head 7 on the upper frame leg 3 and a laser beam holder 8 on the lower frame leg 4. The forming station 6 has an upper tool holder 9 on the upper frame leg 3 and a lower tool holder 10 on the lower frame leg 4. An upper tool embodied as a forming punch 11 is exchanged into the upper tool holder 9, and a lower tool embodied as a shaping die 12 is exchanged into the lower tool holder 10. The forming punch 11 and the forming die 12 are tool parts of a forming tool 13.

By means of a conventional lifting drive for the forming tool 13, the forming die 11 can be raised and lowered along a lifting axis 14 relative to the forming die 12. The upper tool holder 9 and the lower tool holder 10, together with the forming punch 11 and the forming die 12, can be adjusted to rotate about the lifting axis 14 (double arrow in Figure 1 ). All functions of the machine tool 1 are controlled by a programmable numerical control.

Plate-like workpieces, in the illustrated example a sheet metal 15, are processed at the laser cutting station 5 and at the forming station 6. For processing purposes, the sheet metal 15 is moved by means of a conventional coordinate guide 16 with a two-axis horizontal movement over a workpiece support 17 of the machine tool 1 and relative to the laser cutting head 7 and the laser beam receptacle 8 and also relative to the forming tool 13. In Figure 1 the plate 15 is shown broken off. As a result, the laser beam receptacle 8 and the lower tool receptacle 10 with the forming die 12 of the forming tool 13 can be seen in FIG.

As part of the machining process carried out on the machine tool 1, the sheet metal 15 is first machined in a separating manner at the laser cutting station 5. One possible result of the separating machining of the sheet metal 15 is shown in FIG Figure 2 shown. Accordingly, in the case of the laser cutting head 7 performed separating machining as workpiece parts in Figure 2 scrap skeleton 18, shown broken off, and sheet metal parts 19, 20, 21, 22 provided as good parts, incompletely separated from one another. Due to a movement of the sheet metal 15 generated by means of the coordinate guide 16, a laser beam directed from the laser cutting head 7 onto the sheet 15 cuts the sheet metal parts 19, 20, 21, 22 free, leaving the connecting webs 23 standing. As a result of the residual connection produced via the connecting webs 23, the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal parts 19, 20, 21, 22 are only incompletely separated from one another. Instead of the laser cutting beam, a different type of cutting tool, in particular a punching tool exchanged at the forming station 6, could also be used for incomplete separation of the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal parts 19, 20, 21, 22.

In the processing state according to Figure 2 the sheet metal 15 is moved to the forming station 6 of the machine tool 1 by means of the coordinate guide 16. There, the connecting webs 23 are pressure-formed by means of the forming tool 13 that has been exchanged in the upper tool holder 9 and the lower tool holder 10.

In detail, the forming tool 13 with the forming die 11 provided as the upper tool and the forming die 12 provided as the lower tool is shown in FIG Figure 3 shown. The stroke axis 14 is indicated by dash-dotted lines on both the forming die 11 and the forming die 12, along which the forming die 11 is lowered relative to the forming die 12 with one machining stroke for pressure forming of a connecting web 23.

When the forming tool 13 has been exchanged into the upper tool holder 9 and the lower tool holder 10, a die-side shaping element 24 and a die-side shaping element 25 lie opposite one another along the stroke axis 14. A flat, circular end face 26 of the die-side forming element 24 and a circular end face 27 of the die-side forming element 25 point toward one another along the stroke axis 14.

To form the flat end face 26, the free end of the forming die 11 is provided with an inner cone 28. The outer surface of the inner cone 28, together with the cylindrical outer surface of the forming punch 11 parallel to the stroke axis and the flat end face 26 running perpendicular to the stroke axis 14, delimits a trapezoidal cross-section of the forming element 24 on the punch side. The upper limit of the trapezoidal cross-section of the forming element 24 on the punch side is shown in FIG Figure 5 indicated by an imaginary dashed line.

The die-side forming element 25 protrudes from a support surface 29 of the forming die 12 towards the forming die 11. The support surface 29 runs on the forming die 12 perpendicular to the stroke axis 14. The cross section of the die-side forming member 25 has the shape of an isosceles triangle, the base of which lies in the support surface 29 of the forming die 12 and the tip of which forms the linear end face 27 of the die-side forming member 25.

Both the punch-side forming element 24 and the die-side shaping element 25 run endlessly along a circular line and thereby concentric with the stroke axis 14. In the transverse direction of the stroke axis 14, the punch-side shaping element 24 and the die-side shaping element 25 are offset from one another, with the flat face 26 of the punch-side shaping element 24 lies within the linear end face 27 of the forming element 25 on the die side.

The processes during pressure forming of the connecting webs 23 of the processed sheet metal 15 are described below using the example of one of the connecting webs 23 between the scrap skeleton 18 and the sheet metal part 20.

Before the actual forming process begins, the processed sheet metal 15 is positioned relative to the forming tool 13 exchanged at the forming station 6 by means of the coordinate guide 16 of the machine tool 1 in such a way that the forming tool 13 assumes a ready-to-process position opposite the connecting web 23 to be formed. In the ready position for processing of the forming tool 13, the forming die 11 of the forming tool 13 is spaced along the stroke axis 14 from the top of the connecting web 23 and the workpiece parts adjoining it. The end face 27 of the shaping member 25 on the die side is at a minimal distance along the stroke axis 14 from the underside of the connecting web 23 and the workpiece parts connected by it.

Due to a corresponding dimensioning of the diameter of the forming die 11, the vertical projection of the flat face 26 of the die-side forming element 24 of the forming die 11 arranged in the processing standby position on the upper side of the processed sheet 15 at both ends of the connecting web 23 extends over a shoulder 30 of the connecting web 23 on the respective workpiece part. This is shown in Figure 4 , where in Figure 4 only the vertical projection of the radially outer boundary line of the flat end face 26 of the forming element 24 on the punch side is shown. On the underside of the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal part 20, the vertical projection of the linear end face 27 of the die-side forming element 25 onto the machined sheet 15 runs concentrically with and radially outside the vertical projection of the end face 26 of the punch-side forming element 24.

Starting from the processing standby position, the forming punch 11 is moved with a processing stroke along the stroke axis 14 in the direction of the forming die 12 up to a stroke end position. In the example cases according to the Figures 3 to 12 the machining stroke is controlled as a function of the path, in the example according to the Figure 13 the machining stroke is controlled depending on the force.

As part of the path-dependent control of the machining stroke of the forming die 11, the amount of the machining stroke performed by the forming die 11 relative to the forming die 12 can be set variably and depends in particular on the desired remaining thickness of the connecting web 23 after the forming. The one covered by the forming die 11 along the stroke axis 14 Distance is recorded by means of a conventional position measuring system and forms the basis for the control of the lifting drive of the machine tool 1.

The remaining thickness of the connecting web 23 is also determined by the height of the die-side forming element 25 measured along the stroke axis 14.

The conditions at the end of the stroke position of the forming die 11 are shown in FIG Figure 5 illustrated. Along the stroke axis 14, the end faces 26, 27 of the stamp-side forming element 24 and the die-side forming element 25 are spaced apart from one another which is smaller than the thickness of the undeformed connecting web 23. The connecting web 23, the scrap skeleton 18 and the sheet metal part 20 are affected the impact by the forming die 11 is pressed with its underside against the support surface 29 of the forming die 12.

The forming die 11 is immersed in the course of the machining stroke with diametrically opposite organ sections of the die-side forming member 24 at both ends of the connecting web 23 in this and in the adjoining areas of the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal part 20. A workpiece side 31 of the forming element 24 on the punch side faces the residual lattice 18, and a workpiece side 32 of the forming element 24 on the punch side faces the sheet metal part 20. Web sides 33, 34 of the stamp-side forming member 24 point to the connecting web 23 and are accordingly facing away from the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal part 20.

Correspondingly, the conditions at the die-side forming element 25 are represented. As a result of the pressurization of the processed sheet metal 15 by the forming die 11, the die-side forming element 25 has two diametrically opposed organ sections at the ends of the connecting web in these and in regions of the residual lattice 18 and near the web of the sheet metal part 20 pressed in. Workpiece sides 35, 36 of the die-side forming element 25 face the scrap lattice 18 and the sheet metal part 20, web sides 37, 38 of the die-side forming element 25 face away from the scrap lattice 18 and from the sheet metal part 20.

While the workpiece sides 31, 32 of the forming member 24 on the punch side are parallel to the stroke axis 14 and also parallel to a separating surface 39 created in the previous separating machining of the sheet 15 on the scrap skeleton 18 and a corresponding separating surface 39 in Figure 4 concealed separating surface on the sheet metal part 20, the workpiece sides 35, 36 of the die-side forming element 25 are inclined at an angle to the separating surfaces 39 on the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal part 20.

On the web sides 33, 34, the die-side forming element 24 has forming surfaces 40, 41. Forming surfaces 42, 43 are provided on the web sides 37, 38 of the die-side forming element 25. The shaping surfaces 40, 41 of the shaping element 24 on the punch side run, starting from the end face 26 of the shaping element 24 on the punch side, along the stroke axis 14 away from the workpiece sides 31, 32 of the shaping element 24 on the punch side. Correspondingly, the shaping surfaces 42, 43 of the die-side shaping element 25 move away from the workpiece sides 35, 36 of the die-side shaping element 25 along the stroke axis 24.

Due to the resulting geometry of the forming member 24 on the punch side and the forming member 25 on the die side, plasticized material of the connecting member 23 on the web sides 33, 34, 37, 38 of the forming member 24 on the punch side and the forming member 24 and the die side is produced under the action of the connecting web 23 being acted upon by the forming tool 13 The forming element 25 is displaced towards the connecting web 23 and thus away from the workpiece sides 31, 32, 35, 36 of the forming element 24 on the punch side and the shaping element 25 on the die side.

At the ends of the connecting web 23, the pressure forming by means of the forming tool 13 reduces the cross section of the connecting web 23 along the stroke axis 14. Due to the oversize of the diameter of the end faces 26, 27 of the punch-side forming element 24 and of the die-side forming element 25 compared to the connecting web 23, the cross-sectional areas are reduced Approaches of the connecting web 23 on the residual lattice 18 and on the sheet metal part 20 set back opposite the separating surfaces 39 into the interior of the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal part 20.

A corresponding offset of the approaches of the cross-section-reduced connecting web 23 on the scrap lattice 18 and on the sheet metal part 20 occurs when the separating surfaces 39 on the scrap skeleton 18 and the sheet metal part 20 are already in the separating processing of the sheet metal 15 prior to the pressure forming of the connecting webs 23 with a be provided with a corresponding return ( Figure 6 ). In this case, only the connecting web 23 and not also an area of the residual lattice 18 and the sheet metal part 20 immediately adjoining the connecting web 23 is to be machined during the pressure forming that follows the separating machining of the sheet metal 15. Accordingly, in the case of the processing situation, according to Figure 6 to apply a lower force for the pressure forming of the connecting web 23 than with the conditions according to FIG Figure 4 .

In the manner described in detail with reference to the connecting web 23 between the scrap skeleton 18 and the sheet metal part 20, all connecting webs 23 are successively connected to the according to FIG Figure 2 processed sheet metal 15 pressure-formed. The Figures 7 and 8 illustrate by way of example the processing of processing webs 23 intersecting in an X-shape, as they are of the type in FIG Figure 2 between the sheet metal parts 19, 20, 21, 22 are provided. Figure 7 relates to the case that not only the connecting webs 23 themselves but also directly adjacent workpiece areas are to be reshaped, while according to FIG Figure 8 Workpiece areas directly adjoining the connecting webs 23 have already been removed during the previous separating machining of the sheet metal 15 and consequently only the connecting webs 23 need to be reshaped.

Figure 9 shows a connecting web 23 provided between two incompletely separated workpiece parts, which, like the rest of the separating machined workpiece, consists of a resilient material and which is also used in the incomplete separation of the adjacent workpiece parts a meander shape has been created. Due to the material and its special shape, the connecting web 23 is resilient and accordingly forms a solid body joint between the two adjacent workpiece parts. If the connecting web 23 according to Figure 9 in the in Figure 5 When pressurized by the forming die 11 and the forming die 12 of the forming tool 13 as illustrated, the connecting web 23 only offers a relatively small resistance to the pressure forming due to its resilience. The resilience of the connecting web 23 facilitates the displacement of plasticized material of the connecting web 23 away from the workpiece sides 31, 32, 35, 36 of the forming member 24 on the punch side and the forming member 25 on the die side.

The Figures 10a, 10b and 10c show forming tools 13/1, 13/2, 13/3 structurally different from the forming tool 13, each in the circumference of a forming die 11/1, 11/2, 11/3. A forming element 24/1 on the punch side of the forming punch 11/1, unlike the forming element 24 of the forming punch 11 on the punch side, has an elliptical shape. The forming punch 11/2 is divided in a plane parallel to the stroke axis 14 and consequently has a two-part forming element 24/2 on the punch side, each segment of the forming element 24/2 on the punch side being semicircular. The forming die 11/3 has resulted from the forming die 11/1 by division along a plane running parallel to the stroke axis 14. A forming element 24/3 of the forming die 11/3 on the punch side is consequently also segmented and comprises two halves of identical construction. The reshaping punches 11/1, 11/2, 11/3 are assigned reshaping dies, not shown, with die-side reshaping elements, the geometry of which is adapted to the geometry of the reshaping elements 24/1, 24/2, 24/3 on the punch-side and which, moreover, are adapted to the die-side Forming element 25 of the forming die 12 of the forming tool 13 match.

In the Figures 11 and 12 machining strategies are illustrated according to which connecting webs 23 between incompletely separated workpiece parts can be pressure-formed by means of the forming tools 13/1, 13/2, 13/3.

Evidence Figure 11 a pressure forming is carried out with several processing strokes of the forming tool 13/1 one after the other at the ends of connecting webs 23. For appropriate alignment of the forming tool 13/1 with respect to the connecting webs 23 to be processed, the forming die 11/1 and the forming die assigned to it are set by rotating the upper tool holder 9 and the lower tool holder 10 of the machine tool 1 about the stroke axis 14. In addition, the processed sheet metal 15 is positioned relative to the forming tool 13/1 by means of the coordinate guide 16 of the machine tool 1.

According to Figure 12 a simple connecting web 23 is processed by means of the forming tool 13/2. The forming tool 13/3 is used for pressure forming two connecting webs 23 intersecting in an X-shape. The forming tools 13/2, 13/3 perform pressure forming at both ends of a connecting web 23 with a single processing stroke, whereby two successive processing strokes of the forming tool 13/3 are required to process the two X-shaped crossing connecting webs 23 and the forming tool 13 / 3 is rotated about the stroke axis 14 after the first machining stroke.

According to Figure 13 a tool part of a forming tool 13/4 is designed as a forming punch 11/4. The forming punch 11/4 is a second tool part in Figure 13 Forming die 12, not shown, according to FIG Figure 3 assigned. A forming unit 44 of the forming die 11/4 corresponds to the forming die 11 according to FIG Figure 3 match. The forming die 11/4 ends in a die-side forming element 24/4 with a trapezoidal cross-section.

In addition to the forming unit 44, the forming die 11/4 has cheeks 45, 46 which protrude from the forming element 24/4 of the forming die 11/4 on the die side along the stroke axis 14 to the forming die 12, not shown, and thereby projections 47, 48 of the forming die 11/4 train.

For pressure forming of a connecting web 23, the previously cut sheet metal 15 and the forming tool 13/4 are positioned relative to one another in such a way that during a processing stroke carried out by the forming die 11/4 to the forming die 12, the connecting web 23 to be formed is located between the projections 47, 48 of the Forming punch 11/4 comes to rest. At the end of the machining stroke, the projections 47, 48 of the forming die 11/4 come into contact with the support surface 29 of the forming die 12 with their end faces leading along the stroke axis 14. The protrusion of the projections 47, 48 with respect to the die-side forming element 24/4 is dimensioned such that at the end of the stroke end position of the forming die 11/4 the end face of the punch-side forming element 24/4 is at a distance from the end face of the die-side forming element 25 along the stroke axis 14 , which corresponds to the desired remaining thickness of the pressure-formed connecting web 23. In the stroke end position, the forming die 11/4 overlaps the formed connecting web 23 like a portal. The projections 47, 48 of the forming die 11/4 are laterally adjacent to the connecting web 23 in the manner of portal supports.

The machining stroke carried out by the forming punch 11/4 relative to the forming die 12 is force-controlled. In the programmable numerical control of the machine tool 1 is an in Figure 13 Stroke control device 49, shown hinted at, for the stroke drive of the forming tool 13/4 integrated.

The stroke control device 49 comprises a force measuring device 50, an evaluation device 51 and an actuating device 52. The force measuring device 50 measures the amount of support force with which the forming die 11/4 of the forming tool 13/4 is supported along the stroke axis 14 on the forming die 12. In the evaluation device 51, the measured actual amount of the support force is compared with a limit amount of the support force stored in the stroke control device 49. If the measured actual amount of the supporting force reaches the predetermined limit amount, this indicates that the forming punch 11/4 along the stroke axis 14 has reached its stroke end position Has. The evaluation device 51 then generates a switching signal for the actuation device 52. On the basis of the switching signal generated by the evaluation device 51, the actuation device 52 actuates the stroke drive of the forming tool 13/4 to the effect that the processing stroke of the forming die 12 directed towards the forming die 12 ends and a Return stroke of the forming punch 11/4 is initiated in the opposite direction of the machining stroke.

Figure 14 illustrates a method step which is carried out in the machining of the sheet metal 15 in the illustrated example before the pressure forming of the connecting webs 23. In this case, sheet metal parts that are incompletely separated from one another are edge-machined on the underside by separating machining while leaving resilient connecting webs 23.

For this purpose, a forming roller 53 is provided, which is exchanged in the lower tool holder 10 at the forming station 6 of the machine tool 1. The forming roller 53 acts when machining the sheet metal parts of a sheet metal previously machined in a separating manner with an in Figure 14 counterpressure roller, not shown, which is exchanged into the upper tool holder 9 of the machine tool 1 and which rests on the upper side of the processed sheet metal with a cylindrical outer surface. The forming roller 53 is provided with a double-conical bead 54 which has two conical forming surfaces 55, 56.

In order to carry out the edge processing of the incompletely separated sheet metal parts of the sheet metal that has been machined separately, the latter is moved by means of the coordinate guide 16 over the workpiece support 17 of the machine tool 1 in such a way that the forming roller 53 pressed against the sheet metal parts rolls along the edges of the sheet metal parts and thereby on the edges of the sheet metal parts generated by means of the forming surfaces 55, 56 inclined surfaces (chamfers). The approaches of the connecting webs 23 are cut out on the sheet metal parts. In these areas, following the edge processing of the incompletely separated sheet metal parts during pressure forming, the connecting webs 23 are made by means of the Die-side forming member 25 of the forming tool 13 or by means of the die-side forming members of the forming tools 13/1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4 created a corresponding inclined surface.

After all of the connecting webs 23 of a machined sheet metal have been pressure-formed, the sheet metal parts, in the example shown in FIG Figure 2 the sheet metal parts 19, 20, 21, 22 of the processed sheet 15, from the associated scrap skeleton (scrap skeleton 18 in Figure 2 ) solved. Due to the cross-sectional reduction of the connecting webs 23, shaking the processed sheet is sufficient for this. Due to the load acting here, the connecting webs 23 break in the fracture zones generated by pressure forming, whereby due to the geometry of the die-side forming elements 24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4 and the associated die-side forming elements of the forming tools 13, 13 / 1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4 no or at most minimal traces of the connecting webs 23 remain on the sheet metal parts. If, due to the corresponding dimensioning of the stamp-side forming elements 24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4 and the die-side forming elements, the diameter-reduced attachments of the connecting webs 23 are set back into the interior of the sheet metal parts, remnants remaining on the sheet metal parts also protrude the connecting webs 23 do not protrude beyond the separating surfaces of the sheet metal parts created before the pressure forming of the connecting webs 23.

Claims (17)

1. Forming tool for pressure-forming a connecting web (23) which is attached at the ends thereof to workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and interconnects the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), which workpiece parts are present as machining products of cutting machining of a plate-like workpiece, in particular a metal sheet (15), and each have a cutting surface (39) in the transverse direction of which the connecting web (23) extends,

   • comprising two tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) which are assigned to mutually opposite sides of the connecting web (23) during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23) and which are movable relative to one another along a stroke axis (14) that extends in the transverse direction of the connecting web (23) during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23),

   • wherein the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12), on sides which face one another along the stroke axis (14), are each provided with a forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25), and end faces (26, 27) of the free ends of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) point towards one another along the stroke axis (14),

   • wherein each of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) has a workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36) and a web side (33, 34, 37, 38) and, during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23), the workpiece sides (31, 32, 35, 36) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) face the same workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and the web sides (33, 34, 37, 38) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) face away from this workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), and

   • wherein the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) can be moved toward one another along the stroke axis (14) with a machining stroke into a stroke end position in which the end faces (26, 27) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) are at a distance from one another along the stroke axis (14) which is smaller during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23) than the extension along the stroke axis (14) of the connecting web (23) to be formed,

   • wherein each of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) has a forming surface (40, 41, 42, 43) on the web side (33, 34, 37, 38) that extends from the end face (26, 27) of the forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) along the stroke axis (14) away from the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36) of the forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25), and

   • wherein the end faces (26, 27) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) are mutually offset in the transverse direction of the stroke axis (14).
2. Forming tool according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) has a supporting surface (29) which extends substantially perpendicularly to the stroke axis (14) and from which the forming element (25) of this tool part (12) protrudes toward the other tool part (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4).
3. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) has a triangular cross section in a section plane extending parallel to the stroke axis (14), or in that at least one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) has a trapezoidal cross section in a section plane extending parallel to the stroke axis (14).
4. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in a section plane extending parallel to the stroke axis (14), one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) has a triangular cross section and the other forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) has a trapezoidal cross section.
5. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on at least one of the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12), the forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) is formed by a free end of the tool part (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) provided with an inner cavity, preferably an inner cone (28).
6. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25), on the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 35), extends along the stroke axis (14) parallel to the cutting surface (39) on the workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) which the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36) of the forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) faces during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23), or in that at least one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25), on the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36), extends along the stroke axis (14) at an angle with respect to the cutting surface (39) on the workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) which the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36) of the forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) faces during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23).
7. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25), on the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36), extends along the stroke axis (14) parallel to the cutting surface (39), and the other forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25), on the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36), extends along the stroke axis (14) at an angle with respect to the cutting surface (39) on the workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) which the workpiece sides (31, 32, 35, 36) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) face during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23).
8. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) has element portions which are mutually offset and by means of which the connecting web (23) can be pressure-formed during pressure-forming at a plurality of locations that are mutually offset along the connecting web (23),

   • an element portion of one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) and an element portion of the other forming element (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) being assigned to one another in each case, thus forming element portion pairs,

   • the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) on the element portions of the element portion pairs each having a workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36) and a web side (33, 34, 37, 38) and, during pressure-forming of the connecting web (23), the workpiece sides (31, 32, 35, 36) of the element portions of an element portion pair facing the same workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and the web sides (33, 34, 37, 38) of the element portions of an element portion pair facing away from this workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), and

   • the workpiece sides (31, 32, 35, 36) of the element portions of different element portion pairs facing different workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and the web sides (33, 34, 37, 38) of the element portions of different element portion pairs facing away from different workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22).
9. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) extend around the stroke axis (14) in a circumferential direction, in particular in an arc-like manner, preferably along a circular arc.
10. Forming tool according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/4; 25) is designed to be endless in the circumferential direction.
11. Forming tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the tool parts (11/4; 12) has a projection (47, 48) which extends along the stroke axis (14) toward the other tool part (11/4; 12), and in that the two tool parts (11/4; 12), when moved into the stroke end position, bear against one another along the stroke axis (14) via the projection (47, 48), bypassing the connecting web (23).
12. Machine tool comprising a forming tool (13, 13/1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4) for pressure-forming a connecting web (23) which is attached at the ends thereof to workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and interconnects the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), which workpiece parts are present as machining products of cutting machining of a plate-like workpiece, in particular a metal sheet (15), and each have a cutting surface (39) in the transverse direction of which the connecting web (23) extends, characterized in that the forming tool (13, 13/1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4) according to any of claims 1 to 11 is provided as the forming tool.
13. Machine tool according to claim 12, characterized in that the forming tool (13/4) according to claim 11 is provided as the forming tool, and in that the forming tool (13/4) has a stroke drive for the tool parts (11/4; 12) having a stroke control device (49) which comprises a force measuring device (50), an evaluation device (51) connected to the force measuring device (50), and an actuating device (52) connected to the evaluation device (51) of the stroke control device (49) and the stroke drive,

    • it being possible, by means of the force measuring device (50) of the stroke control device (49) and during the machining stroke of the tool parts (11/4; 12) of the forming tool (13/4), to measure the amount of the bearing force with which the tool parts (11/4; 12) bear against one another via the projection (47, 48) extending along the stroke axis (14),

    • it being possible, by means of the evaluation device (51) of the stroke control device (49), to compare the amount of bearing force measured by the force measuring device (50) with a threshold amount of bearing force associated with the stroke end position of the tool parts (11/4; 12), and

    • it being possible, by means of the evaluation device (51) of the stroke control device (49), to generate a switching signal for the actuating device (52) of the stroke control device (49) when the threshold amount of bearing force is reached or exceeded, on the basis of which signal the actuating device (52) actuates the stroke drive of the forming tool (13/4) with the effect of terminating the machining stroke.
14. Method for pressure-forming a connecting web (23) which is attached at the ends thereof to workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and interconnects the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), which workpiece parts are present as machining products of cutting machining of a plate-like workpiece, in particular a metal sheet (15), and each have a cutting surface (39) in the transverse direction of which the connecting web (23) extends,

    • two tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) of a forming tool (13, 13/1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4), at at least one end of the connecting web (23), being assigned to mutually opposite sides of the connecting web (23) and being moved relative to one another along a stroke axis (14) which extends in the transverse direction of the connecting web (23),

    • the connecting web (23) being acted on at the at least one end by forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) of the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) with which the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) are provided on sides which face one another along the stroke axis (14), which forming elements point toward one another along the stroke axis (14) at free ends by means of end faces (26, 27) and each have a workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36) and a web side (33, 34, 37, 38),

    • the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) being aligned with respect to the connecting web (23) in such a way that the workpiece sides (31, 32, 35, 36) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) face the same workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and the web sides (33, 34, 37, 38) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) face away from this workpiece part (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), and

    • the tool parts (11, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4; 12) being moved toward one another along the stroke axis (14) with a machining stroke into a stroke end position in which the end faces (26, 27) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) are at a distance from one another along the stroke axis (14) which is smaller than the extension along the stroke axis (14) of the connecting web (23) to be formed,

    characterized in that the method is carried out by means of the forming tool (13, 13/1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4) according to any of claims 1 to 11 and/or by means of the machine tool (1) according to either claim 12 or claim 13, material of the connecting web (23) being plasticized on the mutually opposite sides of the connecting web (23) by means of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) of the forming tool (13, 13/1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4), and plasticized material of the connecting web (23) on the web side (33, 34, 37, 38) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) being displaced by means of the forming surfaces (40, 41, 42, 43) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25) away from the workpiece side (31, 32, 35, 36) of the forming elements (24, 24/1, 24/2, 24/3, 24/4; 25).
15. Method for cutting machining plate-like workpieces, in particular for cutting machining metal sheets (15), two workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) being separated from one another

    • by the two workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) first being incompletely separated from one another with a cutting surface (39) being produced on each of the two workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and with at least one connecting web (23) being left in place, which connecting web is attached at the ends thereof to the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), interconnects the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), and extends in the transverse direction of the cutting surfaces (39),

    • by the connecting web (23) being pressure-formed after the incomplete separation of the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), and

    • by the two workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) then being completely separated from one another by removing the connection established by the formed connecting web (23),

    characterized in that, after the incomplete separation of the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), the connecting web (23) is pressure-formed in accordance with the method according to claim 14.
16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that a plate-like workpiece, in particular a metal sheet (15), made of an elastically deformable material is machined by cutting, and in that the at least one connecting web (23) is produced as a flexure hinge and is resilient in the transverse direction of the cutting surfaces (39) of the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) interconnected by the connecting web (23).
17. Method for machining plate-like workpieces, in particular for machining metal sheets (15), the workpiece being machined by cutting, characterized in that the workpiece is machined by cutting in accordance with the method according to either claim 15 or claim 16, and in that, after the incomplete separation of the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), before or after pressure-forming of the at least one connecting web (23) that interconnects the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), and before the complete separation of the workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22), at least one of the incompletely separated workpiece parts (18, 19, 20, 21, 22) is additionally machined, preferably additionally edge machined.

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