JP3786647B2

JP3786647B2 - Die set for pulse current pressure sintering and pulse current pressure sintering system

Info

Publication number: JP3786647B2
Application number: JP2003033562A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 正雄鴇田; 勝之中川; 進一石田
Original assignee: Ｓｐｓシンテックス株式会社
Priority date: 2003-02-12
Filing date: 2003-02-12
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-12
Also published as: JP2004244660A

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の利用分野】
本発明はパルス通電加圧焼結機用のダイセット及びそのようなダイセットと焼結機の組合せ並びにパルス通電加圧焼結システムに関し、詳しくは、焼結型内への粉末の充填位置と通電加圧焼結機による粉末材料の焼結位置との間で往復動作させることにより、自動的かつ連続的に、しかも高速で製造するのに適したパルス通電加圧焼結機用のダイセット、ダイセットとパルス通電加圧焼結機との組合せ並びにパルス通電加圧焼結システムに関する。
【０００２】
【従来技術】
例えば本出願人により提案された放電プラズマ焼結、放電焼結或いはプラズマ活性化焼結を含む、パルス電流を利用して焼結を行うパルス通電加圧焼結法により焼結時間を大幅に短縮する事が可能になってきた。このため、１回の焼結に必要な時間すなわち昇温時間、保持時間及び降温時間を含む全工程焼結時間が、従来の大気圧下、真空下、或いは不活性ガス雰囲気下で行われる通電焼結法に比較して遙かに短くなり、焼結型への粉体の充填、焼結装置内への焼結型の供給或いはそこからの焼結型の取り出し、更には焼結型からの焼結品の抜き取り等の付属の準備作業に必要な作業時間に比較しても従来よりも遙かに短くなってきた（刊行物１及び２参照）。
このため、パルス通電加圧焼結法により金属及び／又は非金属の、単一又は複合粉末材料を焼結して緻密で高密度の焼結体或いは多孔質の焼結体を製造する工程も短時間になり、このような焼結体をつくる工程の自動化を図る意義及びそれによる利点も増大してきた。
【０００３】
しかしながら、常圧焼結法、ホットプレス法或いはＨＩＰ法のような今までの通電焼結法では全行程焼結時間としては１時間以上一昼夜の時間を要していたので、焼結の自動化によりかかる焼結体を自動的に量産するという技術は十分に開発されておらず、本出願人を含む共同出願人による出願に係る下記公開特許公報（特許文献１参照）に示される発明によりアルミニュウム合金粉末を焼結して焼結体を自動的かつ連続的に、高速で製造することが可能になったが、アルミニュウム以外の材料の粉末材料の焼結にも適用可能で、装置の構造及び動作の簡素化及び生産の効率化を図れる焼結システムについてはまだ市場では提供されておらず、そのような焼結システムの開発が要望されている。
【０００４】
【刊行物１】
カタログ「住石放電プラズマ焼結機”ＤＲ．ＳＩＮＴＥＲ”ＭＯＤＥＬＳＰＳ−３．２０ＭＫ−ＩＩ／ＭＫ−ＩＶ」（カタログＮｏ．Ｓ０２５−０００２０２１１Ａ
【刊行物２】
カタログ「住石放電プラズマ焼結機”ＤＲ．ＳＩＮＴＥＲ”ＭＯＤＥＬＳＰＳ−１０２０・１０３０・１０５０・１０８０」（カタログＮｏ．Ｓ０２４−０００２０２１１Ａ
【特許文献１】
特開２００１−３２９３０２号公報
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
したがって、本発明の主目的は、自動的にかつ高速で連続的に、しかも効率良く粉末材料を焼結するのに適した、パルス通電加圧焼結機用のダイセットを提供することである。
本発明の他の目的は、粉末材料の焼結を自動的にかつ高速で連続的に、しかも効率良くできるようにしたパルス通電加圧焼結機とダイセットの組合せを提供することである。
本発明の別の目的は、前記のようなダイセットを備えていて、粉末材料の焼結体を自動的にかつ高速で連続的に、しかも効率良く製造可能な通電加圧焼結システムを提供することである。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本願の発明は、焼結すべき粉末材料に所望の加圧力及び所望の直流パルス電流を付与して焼結し、焼結体とするパルス通電加圧焼結機用のダイセットにおいて、第１の位置と前記第１の位置から隔てた第２の位置との間で移動可能な可動台と、前記可動台に対して電気的に絶縁して上下方向に移動可能に配置されかつ上下に貫通する穴を有する焼結型と、前記可動台に対して略垂直に固定されていて前記焼結型の移動を案内する案内部材と、前記焼結型の穴に移動可能に配置された下パンチ部材と、前記案内部材に案内されて可動台に関して移動可能に配置されてた支持部材と、前記支持部材に電気的に絶縁して取り付けられていて、前記焼結型の穴内に挿入可能になっている上パンチ部材と、を備えて構成されている。
本願の他の発明は、互いに相対移動可能な上部及び下部通電加圧部材を有していて、焼結すべき粉末材料に所望の加圧力及び所望の直流パルス電流を前記通電加圧部材を介して付与して焼結し、焼結体とするパルス通電加圧焼結機用のダイセットにおいて、前記焼結位置に配置された台と、前記台に対して電気的に絶縁して上下方向に移動可能に配置されかつ上下に貫通する穴を有する焼結型と、前記台に対して略垂直に固定されていて前記焼結型の移動を案内する案内部材と、前記焼結型の穴に移動可能に配置された下パンチ部材と、前記案内部材に案内されて台に関して移動可能に配置されてた支持部材と、前記支持部材に電気的に絶縁して取り付けられていて、前記焼結型の穴内に挿入可能になっている上パンチ部材と、を備え、焼結完了後の焼結体を前記パルス通電加圧焼結機の下部通電加圧部材により前記下パンチを前記焼結型に関して押し上げて前記焼結型の外に出すように構成されている。
本発明の発明によるダイセットによれば、上、下パンチと焼結型との位置決めを焼結位置で正確に行うことがで、焼結型内へのパンチの挿入を行っても焼結型の破損を発生させることがなく、パルス通電加圧焼結機に使用した場合、焼結を早いサイクルタイムで動作可能であり、生産効率を向上でき、また、再現性の向上及び信頼性の向上を図ることがで、更に高速で精密な焼結を行うことを可能にできる。
本願の別の発明は、焼結すべき粉末材料に所望の加圧力及び所望の直流パルス電流を付与して焼結し、焼結体とするパルス通電加圧焼結機と、前記粉末材料が入れられる焼結型を有するダイセットとの組合せにおいて、前記パルス通電加圧焼結機が、少なくとも一方が他方に関して相対的に上下運動可能な上部、下部一対の通電加圧部材と、前記通電加圧部材に接続されて所望のパルス電流を前記通電加圧部材に供給する電源装置と、前記少なくとも一方の通電加圧部材を上下動させる加圧装置とを備え、前記ダイセットが、第１の位置と前記第１の位置から隔てた第２の位置との間で移動可能な可動台と、前記可動台に対して電気的に絶縁して上下方向に移動可能に配置されかつ上下に貫通する穴を有する焼結型と、前記可動台に対して略垂直に固定されていて前記焼結型の移動を案内する案内部材と、前記焼結型の穴に移動可能に配置された下パンチ部材と、前記案内部材に案内されて可動台に関して移動可能に配置されてた支持部材と、前記支持部材に電気的に絶縁して取り付けられていて、前記焼結型の穴内に挿入可能になっている上パンチ部材とを備えて構成されている。
本願の更に別の発明は、焼結すべき粉末材料に所望の加圧力及び所望の直流パルス電流を付与して焼結し、焼結体とするパルス通電加圧焼結機と、前記粉末材料が入れられる焼結型を有するダイセットとの組合せにおいて、前記パルス通電加圧焼結機が、少なくとも一方が他方に関して相対的に上下運動可能な上部、下部一対の通電加圧部材と、前記通電加圧部材に接続されて所望のパルス電流を前記通電加圧部材に供給する電源装置と、前記少なくとも一方の通電加圧部材を上下動させる加圧装置とを備え、前記ダイセットが、前記焼結位置に配置された台と、前記台に対して電気的に絶縁して上下方向に移動可能に配置されかつ上下に貫通する穴を有する焼結型と、前記台に対して略垂直に固定されていて前記焼結型の移動を案内する案内部材と、前記焼結型の穴に移動可能に配置された下パンチ部材と、前記案内部材に案内されて台に関して移動可能に配置されてた支持部材と、前記支持部材に電気的に絶縁して取り付けられていて、前記焼結型の穴内に挿入可能になっている上パンチ部材と、を備え、焼結完了後の焼結体を前記パルス通電加圧焼結機の下部通電加圧部材により前記下パンチを前記焼結型に関して押し上げて前記焼結型の外に出すように構成されている。
上記本願の発明によるはダイセットとパルス通電加圧焼結機との組合せによれば、ダイセットを使用することにより、上、下パンチと焼結型との位置決めを焼結位置で正確に行うことがで、焼結型内へのパンチの挿入を行っても焼結型の破損を発生させることがなく、パルス通電加圧焼結機による焼結を早いサイクルタイムで動作可能であり、生産効率を向上でき、また、再現性の向上及び信頼性の向上を図ることがで、更に高速で精密な焼結を行うことを可能にできる。
【０００７】
本願の別の発明は、焼結すべき粉末材料に所望の加圧力及び所望の直流パルス電流を付与して焼結し、焼結体とするパルス通電加圧焼結システムにおいて、少なくとも一方が他方に関して相対的に上下運動可能な上部、下部一対の通電加圧部材、前記通電加圧部材に接続されて所望のパルス電流を前記通電加圧部材に供給する電源装置及び前記少なくとも一方の通電加圧部材を上下動させる加圧装置を備えたパルス通電加圧焼結機と、前記粉末材料が充填される焼結型を有していて、前記焼結機による焼結位置となる第１の位置と前記第１の位置から所望の距離隔てられた第２の位置との区間で直線往復移動可能な少なくとも１台のダイセットと、前記ダイセットが前記第２の位置にあるとき前記焼結型内に粉末材料を充填できる充填装置及び焼結体を取り出し可能な取り出し装置とを備え、前記ダイセットが、第１の位置と前記第１の位置から隔てた第２の位置との間で移動可能な可動台と、前記可動台に対して電気的に絶縁して上下方向に移動可能に配置されかつ上下に貫通する穴を有する焼結型と、前記可動台に対して略垂直に固定されていて前記焼結型の移動を案内する案内部材と、前記焼結型の穴に移動可能に配置された下パンチ部材と、前記案内部材に案内されて可動台に関して移動可能に配置されてた支持部材と、前記支持部材に電気的に絶縁して取り付けられていて、前記焼結型の穴内に挿入可能になっている上パンチ部材と、を備えて構成されている。
本願の更に別の発明は、焼結すべき粉末材料に所望の加圧力及び所望の直流パルス電流を付与して焼結し、焼結体とするパルス通電加圧焼結システムにおいて、少なくとも一方が他方に関して相対的に上下運動可能な上部、下部一対の通電加圧部材、前記通電加圧部材に接続されて所望のパルス電流を前記通電加圧部材に供給する電源装置及び前記少なくとも一方の通電加圧部材を上下動させる加圧装置を備えたパルス通電加圧焼結機と、前記粉末材料が充填される焼結型を有していて、前記焼結機による焼結位置において焼結型と上下パンチ部材との相対移動により焼結型内への粉末材料の充填と焼結体の除去を前記焼結位置で可能にするダイセットと、前記ダイセットの前記焼結型内に粉末材料を充填できる充填装置とを備え、前記ダイセットが、前記焼結位置に配置された台と、前記台に対して電気的に絶縁して上下方向に移動可能に配置されかつ上下に貫通する穴を有する焼結型と、前記台に対して略垂直に固定されていて前記焼結型の移動を案内する案内部材と、前記焼結型の穴に移動可能に配置された下パンチ部材と、前記案内部材に案内されて台に関して移動可能に配置されてた支持部材と、前記支持部材に電気的に絶縁して取り付けられていて、前記焼結型の穴内に挿入可能になっている上パンチ部材と、を備え、焼結完了後の焼結体を前記下部通電加圧部材により前記下パンチを前記焼結型に関して押し上げて前記焼結型の外に出すように構成されている。
上記本願の発明によるはダイセットとパルス通電加圧焼結機との組合せによれば、ダイセットを使用することにより、上、下パンチと焼結型との位置決めを焼結位置で正確に行うことがで、焼結型内へのパンチの挿入を行っても焼結型の破損を発生させることがなく、パルス通電加圧焼結システムによる焼結を早いサイクルタイムで動作可能であり、生産効率を向上でき、また、再現性の向上及び信頼性の向上を図ることがで、更に高速で精密な焼結を行うことを可能にできる。
【０００８】
【実施例】
以下図面を参照して本発明の実施形態について説明する。
図１及び図２において、本実施形態によるダイセットを備えるパルス通電加圧焼結システム１の全体が概略的に示されている。このパルス通電加圧焼結システム（以下単に焼結システム）１は、大きく分けて、放電プラズマ焼結、放電焼結或いはプラズマ活性化焼結を含む、パルス電流を利用して焼結を行うパルス通電加圧焼結機（以下単に焼結機）２と、焼結機２の中心位置すなわち焼結位置Ａのを通して水平方向（図１で左右両側）に所定の距離直線状に伸びる支持装置１０と、その支持装置１０上に移動可能に配置されたダイセット３と、ダイセットを支持装置３上で往復移動させる駆動機構４と、焼結位置から所定の距離Ｌ１隔てられた充填／取り出し位置Ｂから更に焼結位置側に所望の距離Ｌ２隔てられた位置に配置されていてガイドレールの伸長方向すなわち中心線Ｘ−Ｘに沿う方向に略直角の方向に移動する台車装置５と、台車装置５上に配置されていて焼結型内に粉末材料を充填する粉末充填装置６と、一部（取り出し機構）が台車装置５上に配置された製品取り出し装置７とを備え、それらは、図１及び図２に示されるように配置されている。なお、焼結機の反対側（図１で右側）にも前記ダイセット、駆動機構、台車装置、粉末充填装置、製品取り出し装置等を配置して２台のダイセットを用いて焼結を行うようにしてもよい。
【０００９】
図１及び図２において、支持装置１０は長方形に組み立てられたフレーム１１と、そのフレーム上に固定された一対のガイドレール１２とを備えている。ガイドレール１２は線Ｘ−Ｘに沿う方向に伸びている。
図２及び図３において、焼結機２は、台２０に互いに隔ててかつ直立状態で固定された複数（この実施例では４個）の支柱２１と、台２０の上部において支柱２１に上下動可能に案内された可動テーブル２２と、焼結機の中心位置（図３で線Ａ−Ａ上）において可動テーブル２２に固定された下部通電加圧部材２３と、支柱２１の上端に固定された上支持板２４と、上支持板２４に下部通電加圧部材２３に対向して配置固定された上部通電加圧部材２５と、台２０の中心部に設けられていて可動テーブル２２を上下動させるアクチュエータ２６とを備えている。下部通電加圧部材２３は可動テーブル２２の上方に向かって所望の長さ突出しており、上部通電加圧部材２５は上支持板２４から下方に向かって所望の長さ突出している。下及び上部通電加圧部材には、図示しないが中には冷却通路が形成され、その冷却通路に水等の冷却流体を通してそれらの通電加圧部材を冷却するようにしている。両通電加圧部材は、例えばステンレス鋼で作られている。下部通電加圧部材２３は公知の方法で可動テーブル２２及びアクチュエータ２６に対して電気的に絶縁され、また上部通電加圧部材２５は上支持板２４に対して公知の方法で電気的に絶縁されている。下部及び上部通電加圧部材２３及び２５は、それぞれ別個の導体２７（２７ａ、２７ｂ）を介して電源装置２８に接続され、その電源装置から焼結電流である直流パルス電流が供給されるようになっている。アクチュエータは油圧シリンダのような流体圧シリンダで良いが、サーボモータ駆動装置のような他の装置でもよい。
上記焼結機は、後述する構成を有するダイセット３が焼結位置に到着すると、アクチュエータ２６が動作してダイセット３の後述する下パンチ部材及び上パンチ部材を上部通電加圧部材２５との間で挟んで加圧し、電源装置２８より両通電加圧部材、下及び上パンチ部材並びに焼結型を介して焼結型内に充填された粉末材料に所望の量の焼結電流（直流パルス電流）を流し、粉末材料を焼結する。
【００１０】
焼結機２は、更に、焼結を行う空間で真空又は不活性ガス雰囲気のチャンバを画成するハウジング２９を備えている。ハウジング２９は、４本の支柱２１によって画成される領域の内側において四周を囲む側壁２９１と、側壁２９１によっての下縁に密閉状態で接続された底壁２９２と、側壁２９１の上縁に密閉状態で接続された上壁２９３とをそなえ、それらの壁によって焼結チャンバＳＣを画成している。底壁２９２は台３０の複数（この例では４個）の直立フレーム２０１によって支持されている。下部通電加圧部材２３は底壁２９２に形成された穴を貫通して焼結チャンバ内にハウジング２９の下側から上側に伸びている。底壁には下部通電加圧部材と底壁との間の隙間を密閉する公知の構造のシール装置が設けられている。また、上部通電加圧部材２５は上壁２９３に形成された穴を貫通して焼結チャンバ内に伸びている。上壁には上部通電加圧部材と上壁との間の隙間を密閉する公知の構造のシール装置が設けられている。側壁の一側面（図１において左側の側面）にはダイセット３が焼結チャンバＳＣ内に出入りできる大きさの出入り口２９４が形成され、その出入り口が形成さえた側には公知の構造のゲート弁（図示せず）が配置されている。ゲート弁はダイセットが焼結チャンバ内に出入りするとき（必要に応じて焼結チャンバの外に出ているとき）出入り口２９４を閉じて焼結チャンバ内を周囲から密閉するようになっている。焼結チャンバ内は、公知の構造及び機能を有する真空排気装置及び（又は）不活性ガス供給装置（何れも図示せず）に公知の方法で接続され、真空チャンバ内を真空雰囲気又は不活性ガス雰囲気にできるようになっている。側壁、底壁及び上壁は二重構造にして内部に水等の冷却流体を循環させ、ハウジングを冷却するようにしてもよい。
【００１１】
図1、図４及び図５において、ダイセット３は、板状（本実施形態では平面が矩形の板状）の可動台３０と、可動台３０に直立状態で取り付けられた複数（本実施形態では直径方向に隔てて２本）の案内部材としてのガイドロッド３１と、可動台３０の上方に配置されていてガイドロッド３１に上下方向に移動可能に案内された板状（本実施形態では平面が矩形の板状）の昇降台としての支持部材３２と、可動台３０と支持部材３２との間に配置されていて、ガイドロッド３１に上下方向に移動可能に案内された焼結型３３と、焼結型３３の上下方向に貫通する穴３３１内に装着された下パンチ部材３４と、支持部材３２に焼結型３３の穴３３１と整合させて取り付けられた上パンチ部材３５とを備えている。焼結型３３は本実施形態では円環状になっていて、外周部にフランジ部３３２が形成されている。フランジ部３３２には複数（この実施形態では直径方向反対側の２箇所）の上下に貫通する貫通穴３３３が形成され、その貫通穴３３３内にガイドロッド３１が受けられている。ガイドロッドと貫通穴３３３の内周面との間には絶縁部材が配置され、それらを電気的に絶縁している。焼結型３３の下部（フランジ部３３２より下側部分）は可動台３０に形成された穴３０１内に緩く受けられ、焼結型の外周面と可動台の穴３０１の内周面との間に隙間ｇが形成されるようになっている。焼結型３３はフランジ部３３２が可動台３０上に載るようになっている。焼結型３３と可動台３０のと間で電気的に絶縁するために、フランジ部３３２の下面と可動台の上面との間（フランジ部の下面又は（及び）可動台３３の上面のフランジ部が載置される部分）には絶縁部材が配置されている。可動台３０の穴３０１の内周面に絶縁部材を配置してもよい。焼結型の貫通穴３３１の下部内周面には半径方向内側に突出する環状の突部３３４が形成されている。この突部３３４は、下パンチ部材３４の上端外周に形成された環状突部３４１と係合して下パンチ部材が貫通穴から抜け落ちるのを防止している。上パンチ部材３５と昇降台すなわち支持部材３２とは絶縁部材を介して公知の方法、例えば上パンチ部材と支持部材との接触面間及び固定用の止め具と上パンチとの接触面間に絶縁部材を配置する等して、電気的に絶縁されている。上記の絶縁部材としては焼結型が高温に加熱されるため、非導電性のセラミック、或いは冷却構造を有する金属板と樹脂製絶縁材料との組合せ等の高温に耐える材料を使用する。
【００１２】
ダイセット３は、更に、昇降台すなわち支持部材３２を上下動させるアクチュエータ３６及び焼結型３３を上下動させるアクチュエータ３７がそれぞれ複数個（本実施形態ではそれぞれ４個）備え、それらは、図３に示されるように可動台３０の下面に取りつけられている。アクチュエータ３６は本実施形態ではエアシリンダのような流体圧シリンダであり、そのシリンダ本体３６１が可動台に直立した状態で公知の方法で固定され、そのピストンロッド３６２の先端（図３において上端）は支持部材３２に固定されている。アクチュエータ３７も本実施形態ではエアシリンダのような流体圧シリンダであり、そのシリンダ本体３７１が可動台３０に直立した状態でかつ前述の絶縁部材と同様の絶縁部材により可動台と電気的に絶縁して公知の方法で固定され、そのピストンロッド３７２の先端（図４において上端）は焼結型３３のフランジ部３３２に固定されている。焼結型３３、下パンチ部材３４及び上パンチ部材３５はアルミニュウム合金粉末のように低い融点を有する金属或いは軽金属の粉末材料を焼結する場合には、例えばダイス鋼などの鉄系の合金で作られ得るが、例えばタングステン合金粉末材料のような高い融点を有する材料を焼結する場合には、グラファイト或いは導電性を有するセラミックス（例えば二硼化チタン（ＴｉＢ₂）、シリコンカーバイド（ＳｉＣ））で作っても良い。上パンチ部材３５の下端部は支持部材３２の下面から下方に向かって突出し、焼結型３３の穴３３１内にぴったりと入り得る寸法になっている。下パンチ部材３４の下端面は可動台３０の下面より下方に突出していて、後述するように、焼結機２の下部通電加圧部材２３の上端面と接触できるようになっている。また、上パンチ部材３５の上端面は支持部材３２の上面より上方に突出していて焼結機の上部通電加圧部材２５の下端面と接触可能になっている。なお、下部及び上部通電加圧部材内には、図示しないが、冷却流体を流す冷却通路が形成され、冷却可能になっている。
【００１３】
図１において、駆動機構４は、台車装置５の固定台５０上に設けられたブラケット４０に回動可能に取りつけられた流体圧シリンダ４１で構成されている。流体圧シリンダ４１のシリンダ本体４１１の略中央部がブラケット４０回動可能に取りつけられ。ピストンロッド４１２の先端はダイセット３のベースプレート３０の下部分３０１に取りつけられた接続部材４３に連結されている。
ダイセット３は、この流体圧シリンダ４１の動作により、その中心がガイドレール上を焼結位置Ａと充填／取り出し位置Ｂとの間で往復移動されるようになっている。
なお、上記実施例ではダイセットのガイドロッドが２本の場合について説明したが、４本でもよい。また第１及び第２のアクチュエータも４個の場合について説明したが、ダイセットの大きさ、形状に応じて１個ないし３個にしてもよい。
【００１４】
図１、図２、及び図６において、台車装置５は、中心が充填／取り出し位置Ｂ（図１に図示以下同じ）から焼結位置Ａとは反対側に距離Ｌ２隔てられた位置Ｃに配置されいて、固定台５０と、固定台５０上で線Ｘ−Ｘに直角の方向（線Ｙ−Ｙに沿った方向）に往復移動可能に設けられた可動台５１と、可動台５１を移動させる台車駆動機構５２とを備えている。
固定台５０は、台板５０１と、台板５０１に複数（この実施形態では４個）の支柱５０２により取りつけられた台フレーム５０３と、台フレーム５０３に取りつけられていて、線Ｙ−Ｙ方向に伸びる一対のガイドレール５０４とを備えている。可動台５１は矩形の台板５１１で構成されていて、その下面にはガイドレール５０４上で転動するローラ（図示せず）が公知の方法で取りつけられている。これにより可動台５１は固定台のガイドレールを移動可能になっている。台車駆動機構５２は、台フレーム５０３の中心位置に一対の軸受５２１により回転可能に支持されたねじ軸５２２と、台フレームに固定されていてねじ軸５２２を回転する電動サーボモータ５２３と、可動台の下面に取りつけられていて、ねじ軸５２２の外周に形成された雄ねじと螺合する雌ねじが形成された雌ねじ部材（図示せず）とを備えている。
可動台５１は、台車駆動機構のねじ軸５２２が電動サーボモータ５２３により正方向及び逆方向に回転されることにより、ガイドレール上で正方向（図６で上方向）及び逆方向（図６で下方向）に移動する。可動台５１は常時は、図６及び図７に示されるように、台フレーム５０３の基端位置（同図において台車駆動機構のサーボモータ５２３から最も離れた位置）にある。
なお、可動台５１の上に載るものが後述する粉末充填装置のみの場合には、上記のような可動の構造にせず、固定の構造でも良い。
【００１５】
図１、図２、図６及び図７において、粉末充填装置６はこの実施形態では可動台５１上に取りつけられて示されている。
粉末充填装置６は、可動台５１上の位置Ｅ（図６において可動台５１の上端）に線Ｘ−Ｘと平行に固定された長い取り付け台の上のガイドレール６１に公知の方法で線Ｘ−Ｘと平行な方向（図６において左右方向）に往復移動可能に支持されたスライダ６２と、スライダ６２を移動させるアクチュエータ６３と、スライダ６２の先端（図１及び図６で右端）に取りつけられていて中で粉末材料を収容可能になっており、下端部から所定量の粉末材料を焼結型本体内に放出できる小型の可動ホッパ６４と、可動ホッパ６４の開閉弁（図示せず）を開閉動作させるアクチュエータ６５とを備えている。アクチュエータ６３及び６５は、この実施形態ではエアシリンダのような流体圧シリンダであるが、電動モータ式などの他の機構を用いてもよい。可動ホッパ及び開閉弁は公知の構造のもので良いので説明は省略する。なお、焼結すべき粉末材料がアルミニュウム合金粉末の場合には可動ホッパ自体にヒーターを内蔵させて可動ホッパ内に入れられた粉末材料を昇温及び保温しておくようにしてもよい。また、粉末材料の充填時に所定量を充填するためには、粉末材料を所定量が入る計量容器内に一端入れた後その計量容器内の粉末材料を焼結型内に充填しても、或いは計量器で計量しながら充填してもよい。粉末材料をは可動台５１が基端位置にある時、可動ホッパ６４の中心が線Ｘ−Ｘ上に位置するようになっている。粉末充填装置６は、更に、可動ホッパが休止位置にある時にその可動ホッパ内に粉末材料を供給する固定の供給ホッパ６７を備えていてもよい。粉末材料がアルミニュウム合金等で所定の温度に保温する必要がある場合にはこの供給ホッパにもヒーターを設けて保温してもよい。
上記粉末充填装置６は、ダイセット３が充填／取り出し位置Ｂに停止していてダイセットが粉末材料の充填工程にあるとき、スライダ６２がアクチュエータ６３の動作により図１において左側に移動されることによって、図７に示されるように、可動ホッパ６４が充填／取り出し位置Ｂに到着している焼結型３４の直上に移動し、アクチュエータ６５が動作して開閉弁（図示せず）を開いて所定量の粉末材料を焼結型３３の穴３３１内に充填する。
なお、可動台５１上には、粉末充填装置と並列に、焼結型の穴内を回転するブラシ等で清掃（ブラッシング）する焼結型清掃装置及び上パンチ部材の下端面をブラシ等で清掃（ブラッシング）する清掃装置を配置してもよい。
【００１６】
製品取り出し装置７は、この実施例では、可動台５０上に粉末充填装置６に隣接して配置された取り出し機構７０と、充填／取り出し位置Ｂの位置においてダイセット３の下方に配置されたエアシリンダのような流体圧作動式のノックアウトシリンダ７８と、を備えている。ノックアウトシリンダ７８は焼結が完了した後ダイセットが位置Ｂにくると動作してピストンロッド７８１により下パンチ部材３４及び焼結品を焼結型に関して相対的に上方に押し上げ、焼結品を焼結型の外に押し出す。取り出し機構７０は、粉末充填装置６に隣接して位置Ｆ（図７において）配置されていて、粉末充填装置のガイドレール６１と平行に取り付け台上に配設されたガイドレール７１と、ガイドレール７１上に公知の方法で往復移動可能に支持されたスライダ７２と、スライダ７２を往復移動させるアクチュエータ７３と、スライダ７２の先端（図６において右端）に取り付けられたチャック７４とを備えている。このチャック７４は公知の構造及び機能を有していて、一対の把持爪で焼結型の外に押し出された焼結品を把持して取り出すようになっている。
【００１７】
次に図１ないし図８を参照して上記実施例の焼結システムの動作について説明する。
焼結型３３内に粉末材料を充填するとき、ダイセット３は駆動機構４により中心Ｏ−Ｏが充填／取り出し位置Ｂに移動され、支持部材３２は図８［Ａ］に示されるように、最上位置に押し上げられ、また焼結型３３は最下位置にあってフランジ部３３２が可動台３０の上に載った状態になっている。この状態のとき、焼結型の上端面と上パンチ部材３５の下端面との間は大きく離れている。この状態で、粉末供給装置６が動作して可動ホッパ６４が焼結型３３の直上で上パンチ部材３２の直下の位置まで移動し、可動ホッパ６４から所定量の粉末材料Ｐを焼結型内に充填する。
焼結型３３内への粉末材料の充填が完了すると、アクチュエータ３６が動作し、図８［Ｂ］に示されるように、昇降台すなわち支持部材３２を所定距離降下させ、上パンチ部材３５の下端が焼結型３３の穴３３１内に僅かに入った状態で停止する。この状態でダイセット３の高さＨ（下パンチ部材３４の下端面から上パンチ部材３５の上端面のまでの高さ）は、待機中の焼結機２の下部通電加圧部材２３の上端と上部通電加圧部材２５の下端面との間の距離より小さくなり、ダイセット３が焼結機にセット可能になる。そこで、駆動機構４が動作してダイセット３を焼結位置Ａに移動する。この時上部パンチ３６の上端面は焼結機の上部通電加圧部材２５の下端面より僅かに低い位置になる。
【００１８】
ダイセット３が焼結位置Ａに到着すると、焼結機２が動作し、図８［Ｃ］に示されるように、加圧装置２６により下部通電加圧部材２３を上昇させて下パンチ部材３４、粉末材料Ｐ及び上パンチ部材３５全体を、上パンチ部材の上端面が上部通電加圧部材２５の下端面に接するまで上昇させると共に、ダイセット３のアクチュエータ３７が動作して焼結型３３を図８［Ｃ］に示されるように上昇させる。このときアクチュエータ３６は無加圧状態で可動状態で動作がフリーになっており、上記上パンチ部材及びそれが取り付けられている支持部材３２は下パンチ部材の上昇により押し上げられる。加圧装置すなわちアクチュエータ２６が焼結条件に基づいた加圧力で下パンチ部材３４を上部通電加圧部材２５に向かって押すと、上部パンチの上端面が上部通電加圧部材２５の下面に接触して焼結型内の粉末材料を上部パンチと下部パンチとで加圧すると共に両通電加圧部材及び両パンチ部材を介して粉末材料Ｐに予めプログラムに設定された電流条件範囲内の所定の量の焼結電流（直流パルス電流）を流して焼結を行う。
焼結が完了した後、プログラム設定に従い、アクチュエータ２６による加圧を解放停止して下部通電加圧部材２３を下降させると共に、ダイセット３のアクチュエータ３６及び３７を動作させて支持部材３２及び上パンチ部材３５並びに焼結型を図８［Ｂ］に示される状態に移動させる。ダイセット３がこの状態になった後駆動機構４が動作してダイセットを充填／取り出し位置Ｂに移動させる。
【００１９】
ダイセット３が充填／取り出し位置Ｂに到着すると、まず、アクチュエータ３６が動作して支持部材３２を図８［Ｄ］に示されるように最上位置に上昇させる。次にノックアウトシリンダ７８が動作してダイセットの下パンチ部材３４をしたから押し上げる。この時アクチュエータ３７は焼結型が下パンチ部材と共に移動しないように動作がロック状態（機械的又は流体的に）になっている。これにより焼結品Ｍは図８［Ｄ］に示されるように、下パンチ部材３４に押されて焼結型３３の上側に僅か出る。この状態で取り出し機構７０のスライダ７２が移動してチャック７４をダイセット内に移動させ、チャックにより焼結品Ｍ取り出す。取り出し機構によりダイセットから取り出された焼結品は位置Ｂにおいてチャック７６の下方に配置されたコンベア７５上に載せられ、そのコンベアにより所定の位置に送られる。
以下同じ動作を繰り返し粉末材料を焼結して焼結品を製造する。
なお、粉末材料の種類によっては真空雰囲気或いは不活性ガス雰囲気下で焼結を行う必要がある場合がある。その場合には、ダイセット３が焼結機内にセットされて焼結が開始される前に、ハウジング２９内の焼結チャンバＳＣ内を外気から密閉し、図示しない真空排気装置により真空雰囲気（例えば６ＭＰａ（４．５×１０^-2Ｔｏｒｒ以下））にするか或いは一旦排気した後図示しない不活性ガス供給装置から不活性ガスを供給して不活性ガス雰囲気にする。
【００２０】
図９において本発明のダイセットを組み込んだ焼結機２ａの実施形態が示されている。この実施形態において、ダイセットの構造及び機能は、ダイセットが焼結位置Ａと充填／取り出し位置Ｂとの間で移動出来ず常時焼結機の焼結チャンバＳＣ内に配置されている点を除いて、前記実施例のものと同じである。したがって、それらの詳細な説明は省略する。
この実施形態のダイセット組み込み式焼結機２ａではダイセットが定位置に固定されているため、ダイセット３用の支持装置１０ａは焼結チャンバＳＣ内に配置され、ハウジング２９の底板上に載せられて支えられるか或いは台２０の直立フレーム２０１の上端上に載せるようにして支持され得る。
上記焼結機において、焼結完了後に焼結品を焼結型の外部に押し出すために下パンチ部材を上昇させる必要があるが、本実施形態ではノックアウトシリンダが存在しないので下部通電加圧部材２３をアクチュエータ２６で押し上げ、その下部通電加圧部材により下パンチ部材３４を押し上げるようにする。また、本実施形態では下部通電加圧部材の必要移動距離を大きくする必要が生じるが、この場合にはアクチュエータのストロークを大きくすればよい。
また焼結型内への粉末材料の充填並びに焼結品の取り出しは、前記実施形態の粉末充填装置６及び製品取り出し装置７を使用して行うことができるが、ダイセットが位置Ｂまで移動することがないので、焼結機中心位置Ａとそれらの装置が載せられている台車装置５の中心の位置との関係は、前記実施形態の位置Ｂと位置Ｃとの関係に等しくすればよい。
なお、特に後者の実施形態では常時ダイセットが焼結チャンバ内に設置されているためアクチュエータ等の作動装置の動作が高温により支障を来す場合が考えられるが、このような場合にはアクチュエータをそれぞれ水冷式のカバーで被うようにすればよい。また、焼結完了後に焼結型を冷却する必要が生じるが、その場合には、冷却水などを内部に通して冷却可能な構造を有する冷却ブロックを焼結型の外周面（焼結型の外周が円弧状面を有する場合にはそのその円弧状面と合う円弧状面を有する冷却ブロック、外周が平坦面を有する場合には平坦面を有する冷却ブロック）に接触させて冷却するようにすればよい。更にまた、アルミニュウム合金の場合のように、低い融点を有する粉末材料を焼結する場合に焼結型を保温したい場合には焼結型にヒーターを内蔵させてもよい。
【００２１】
前記実施形態では１回の焼結動作で１個の焼結体を成形する例について説明したが、図１０に示されるように、焼結型３３ｂに複数（例えば、焼結型の中心を中心とする円周上に円周方向に等間隔に隔てて複数個（図では３個の例を示す））の貫通穴３３１ｂを形成し、上部パンチもその焼結型の貫通穴の数に対応した数とすることにより（下部パンチは全ての貫通穴の下端を塞げる大きさのもの１個でよい）、１回の焼結動作で複数個の焼結体をつくるようにしてもよい。また、焼結型内に粉末材料をスペーサを間に介在させることによって２層以上多段に充填して一度に複数層の粉末材料を焼結して複数の焼結体をつくってもよい。
【００２２】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば次のような効果を奏することが可能である。
（イ）アルミニュウム或いはその合金のような低い融点を有する金属材料或いは非金属材料の焼結だけでなく、タングステン合金等の高い融点を有する金属或いは非金属材料の焼結を高速で連続的に行うことができる。
（ロ）絶縁構造を有するダイセット方式により、上、下パンチと焼結型との位置決めを焼結位置で正確に行うことができる。
（ハ）絶縁構造を有するダイセット方式により、焼結型内へのパンチの挿入を行っても焼結型の破損を発生させることがない。
（ニ）絶縁構造を有するダイセット方式により、早いサイクルタイムで動作可能であり、生産効率を向上できる。
（ホ）絶縁構造を有するダイセット方式により、再現性の向上及び信頼性の向上を図ることができる。
（ヘ）高速で精密な焼結を行うことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明によるダイセット式のパルス通電加圧焼結システムの一実施形態の全体の側面図である。
【図２】図１のパルス通電加圧焼結システムの全体の平面図である。
【図３】図１のパルス通電加圧焼結システムに使用されているパルス通電加圧焼結機とダイセットとの組合せを示す側面図である。
【図４】図１のパルス通電加圧焼結システムに使用されているダイセットの側面図であって、図５の線Ｑ−Ｑに沿って見た断面図である。
【図５】図５のダイセットの平断面図であって、線Ｒ−Ｒに沿って見た図である。
【図６】図１のパルス通電加圧焼結システムに使用されている台車装置、粉末充填装置、製品取り出し装置を示す平面図である。
【図７】図６の台車装置、粉末充填装置、製品取り出し装置を示す図であって、図６の線Ｓ−Ｓに沿って見た図で、一部を省略して示す図である。
【図８】粉末充填、焼結機内へのダイセットの移動、焼結及び焼結品取り出し状態を説明するダイセットの側面図である。
【図９】本発明の他の実施形態であるダイセット組み込み式パルス通電加圧焼結機の側面図である。
【図１０】焼結型の変形例を示す斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１パルス通電加圧焼結システム
２パルス通電加圧焼結機
２３下部通電加圧部材２５上部通電加圧部材
３ダイセット
３０ベーステーブル３１ガイドロッド
３２支持部材３３焼結型
３４下パンチ部材３５上パンチ部材
３６、３７アクチュエータ
４駆動機構５台車装置
６粉末充填装置７製品取り出し装置[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a die set for a pulse current pressure sintering machine, a combination of such a die set and a sintering machine, and a pulse current pressure sintering system. Die set for pulse current pressure sintering machine suitable for automatic and continuous production at high speed by reciprocating between powder material sintering position by current pressure sintering machine Further, the present invention relates to a combination of a die set and a pulsed electric pressure sintering machine and a pulsed electric pressure sintering system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, the pulse current pressure sintering method that uses pulsed current to sinter significantly, including spark plasma sintering, spark sintering, or plasma activated sintering proposed by the present applicant, greatly reduces the sintering time. It has become possible to do. For this reason, all the process sintering time including the time required for one sintering, i.e., heating time, holding time and cooling time, is carried out under conventional atmospheric pressure, vacuum, or inert gas atmosphere. Compared to the sintering method, it is much shorter. Filling the sintering mold with powder, supplying the sintering mold into the sintering machine or taking out the sintering mold from it, and further from the sintering mold. Compared to the work time required for the attached preparatory work such as extraction of the sintered product, it has become much shorter than before (see publications 1 and 2).
For this reason, there is also a process for producing a dense and high-density sintered body or a porous sintered body by sintering a metal and / or non-metallic single or composite powder material by a pulse current pressure sintering method. In a short period of time, the significance of automating the process for producing such a sintered body and the advantages thereof have increased.
[0003]
However, conventional current sintering methods such as the normal pressure sintering method, the hot press method, and the HIP method have required a time of one hour or more for a whole process sintering time. A technique for automatically mass-producing such a sintered body has not been sufficiently developed, and an aluminum alloy according to the invention disclosed in the following published patent publication (see Patent Document 1) relating to an application by a joint applicant including the present applicant Sintered powder can be manufactured automatically and continuously at high speed by sintering powder, but it can also be applied to sintering powder materials other than aluminum, and the structure and operation of the device A sintering system capable of simplifying the manufacturing process and improving the production efficiency has not been provided in the market yet, and there is a demand for the development of such a sintering system.
[0004]
[Publication 1]
Catalog “Sumiishi Discharge Plasma Sintering Machine” DR. SINTER “MODEL SPS-3.20MK-II / MK-IV” (Catalog No. S0-25000021A)
[Publication 2]
Catalog “Sumiishi Discharge Plasma Sintering Machine” DR. SINTER "MODEL SPS-1020, 1030, 1050, 1080" (Catalog No. S024-00020211A)
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-329302 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a die set for a pulsed current pressure sintering machine, which is suitable for automatically and continuously at high speed and efficiently sintering a powder material. .
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a pulse energizing pressure sintering machine and a die set that can sinter powder material automatically, continuously at high speed and efficiently.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an energization and pressure sintering system that is equipped with a die set as described above, and that can automatically and rapidly produce a sintered body of powder material at high speed. It is to be.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of the present application relates to a die set for a pulse-current pressure sintering machine in which a desired pressing force and a desired direct-current pulse current are applied to a powder material to be sintered to form a sintered body. A movable base movable between the first position and a second position separated from the first position; and a movable base that is electrically insulated from the movable base and arranged to be movable in the vertical direction and penetrates vertically A sintering die having a hole to be formed, a guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicular to the movable table and guides the movement of the sintering die, and a lower punch that is movably disposed in the hole of the sintering die A member, a support member that is guided by the guide member and arranged to be movable with respect to the movable base, and is electrically insulated and attached to the support member, and can be inserted into the hole of the sintered mold. And an upper punch member.
Another invention of the present application has upper and lower energization pressing members that can move relative to each other, and applies a desired pressure and a desired DC pulse current to the powder material to be sintered via the energization pressing members. In a die set for a pulse energization pressure sintering machine that is applied and sintered to form a sintered body, the base disposed at the sintering position and the vertical direction electrically insulated from the base A sinter mold that is movably arranged and has a hole penetrating vertically, a guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicular to the table and guides the movement of the sinter mold, and a hole in the sinter mold A lower punch member that is movably disposed on a support member, a support member that is guided by the guide member and is movably disposed with respect to a base, and is electrically insulated and attached to the support member, and the sintering And an upper punch member that can be inserted into the hole of the mold, and sintered The sintered body of After the completion is configured to let out of the sintered type the lower punch pushes up with respect to the sintering mold by the lower current pressure member of said pulse current pressure sintering device.
According to the die set of the present invention, the positioning of the upper and lower punches and the sintering die can be accurately performed at the sintering position, so that even if the punch is inserted into the sintering die, the sintering die When used in a pulsed current pressure sintering machine without causing damage, sintering can be operated with a fast cycle time, improving production efficiency, and improving reproducibility and reliability. This makes it possible to perform high-speed and precise sintering.
Another invention of the present application is to apply a desired pressure and a desired direct-current pulse current to a powder material to be sintered and sinter the pulse current pressure sintering machine as a sintered body, and the powder material includes: In a combination with a die set having a sintered mold to be inserted, the pulse energizing pressure sintering machine includes a pair of upper and lower energizing and pressing members, at least one of which can move up and down relatively with respect to the other, and the energizing force. A power supply device connected to a pressure member to supply a desired pulse current to the energizing pressurizing member; and a pressurizing device for moving the at least one energizing pressurizing member up and down. A movable base movable between a position and a second position separated from the first position; and a movable base that is electrically insulated from the movable base and arranged to be movable in the vertical direction and penetrates vertically Sintered mold with a hole and approximately A guide member that is directly fixed and guides the movement of the sintering mold, a lower punch member that is movably disposed in the hole of the sintering mold, and a guide that is guided by the guide member so that the movable table can move. The support member is arranged, and is provided with an upper punch member that is electrically insulated from the support member and can be inserted into the hole of the sintered mold.
Still another invention of the present application includes a pulsed electric current pressure sintering machine that applies a desired pressure and a desired direct-current pulse current to a powder material to be sintered and sinters the powder material, and the powder material. In the combination with a die set having a sintering mold into which is inserted, at least one of the pulse energizing and pressure sintering machine is a pair of energizing and pressing members that can move up and down relatively with respect to the other, and the energizing member A power supply device connected to the pressurizing member to supply a desired pulse current to the energizing pressurizing member; and a pressurizing device for moving the at least one energizing pressurizing member up and down. A base placed at a binding position, a sintered mold that is electrically insulated from the base and arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and has a hole penetrating vertically, and fixed substantially perpendicular to the base To guide the movement of the sintered mold A member, a lower punch member that is movably disposed in the sintered mold hole, a support member that is guided by the guide member and is movably disposed with respect to a base, and is electrically insulated from the support member. An upper punch member that can be inserted into the hole of the sintering mold, and the sintered body after completion of the sintering is a lower energizing pressure member of the pulse energizing pressure sintering machine Thus, the lower punch is pushed up with respect to the sintering die and is put out of the sintering die.
According to the invention of the present application, according to the combination of the die set and the pulse energization pressure sintering machine, the upper and lower punches and the sintering die are accurately positioned at the sintering position by using the die set. Therefore, even if the punch is inserted into the sintering mold, the sintering mold will not be damaged, and sintering with a pulsed current pressure sintering machine can be operated in a fast cycle time. Efficiency can be improved, and reproducibility and reliability can be improved, so that it is possible to perform high-speed and precise sintering.
[0007]
Another invention of the present application is a pulsed electric current pressure sintering system in which a desired pressure force and a desired direct-current pulse current are applied to a powder material to be sintered to form a sintered body. A pair of energizing and pressing members capable of moving up and down relatively, a power supply device connected to the energizing and pressing member to supply a desired pulse current to the energizing and pressing member, and at least one of the energizing and pressing members A first position which has a pulse energizing pressure sintering machine provided with a pressure device for moving the member up and down, and a sintering mold filled with the powder material, and serves as a sintering position by the sintering machine At least one die set capable of linear reciprocation in a section between the first position and a second position separated from the first position by a desired distance, and when the die set is at the second position, the sintering mold Filling device that can be filled with powder material and A take-out device capable of taking out the sintered body, and the die set is movable between a first position and a second position separated from the first position; and A sintered mold that is electrically insulated from the vertical axis and has a vertically penetrating hole, and is fixed substantially perpendicular to the movable base to guide the movement of the sintered mold. A guide member to be moved, a lower punch member that is movably disposed in the hole of the sintering mold, a support member that is guided by the guide member and is movably disposed with respect to the movable base, and an electric device electrically connected to the support member. And an upper punch member that can be inserted into the hole of the sintered mold.
Still another invention of the present application is a pulsed electric current pressure sintering system in which a desired pressure force and a desired direct-current pulse current are applied to a powder material to be sintered to form a sintered body. A pair of upper and lower energizing and pressing members that can move up and down relatively with respect to the other, a power supply device connected to the energizing and pressing member and supplying a desired pulse current to the energizing and pressing member, and at least one energizing member A pulse energizing pressure sintering machine provided with a pressing device for moving the pressure member up and down, and a sintering mold filled with the powder material, and a sintering mold at a sintering position by the sintering machine; A die set that enables filling of the sintering material in the sintering mold and removal of the sintered body at the sintering position by relative movement with the upper and lower punch members, and a powder material in the sintering mold of the die set. A filling device capable of filling, and the die A base disposed at the sintering position, a sintering mold that is electrically insulated from the base and is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and has a hole penetrating vertically. A guide member that is fixed substantially vertically to guide the movement of the sintering die, a lower punch member that is movably disposed in the hole of the sintering die, and is guided by the guide member and moves with respect to the table. A support member disposed in a possible manner, and an upper punch member that is electrically insulated and attached to the support member and can be inserted into the hole of the sintering mold. The lower punch is pushed up with respect to the sintering mold by the lower energization pressing member and is put out of the sintering mold.
According to the invention of the present application, according to the combination of the die set and the pulse energization pressure sintering machine, the upper and lower punches and the sintering die are accurately positioned at the sintering position by using the die set. Therefore, even if the punch is inserted into the sintering die, the sintering die is not damaged, and the sintering by the pulse current pressure sintering system can be operated with a fast cycle time, and production is possible. Efficiency can be improved, and reproducibility and reliability can be improved, so that it is possible to perform high-speed and precise sintering.
[0008]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 schematically show an entire pulsed electric pressure sintering system 1 including a die set according to the present embodiment. This pulse energization pressure sintering system (hereinafter simply referred to as a sintering system) 1 is roughly divided into pulses that use pulse current to perform sintering, including discharge plasma sintering, discharge sintering, or plasma activated sintering. An electric pressure sintering machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a sintering machine) 2 and a support device 10 that extends linearly through a center position of the sintering machine 2, that is, a sintering position A, in a horizontal direction (both left and right sides in FIG. 1) by a predetermined distance. A die set 3 movably disposed on the support device 10, a drive mechanism 4 for reciprocating the die set on the support device 3, and a filling / unloading position separated by a predetermined distance L1 from the sintering position. A carriage device 5 which is disposed at a desired distance L2 further on the sintering position side from B and moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the guide rail, that is, the direction along the center line XX; Is placed on 5 A powder filling device 6 for filling a powder material in a sintering mold and a product take-out device 7 having a part (a take-out mechanism) arranged on a cart device 5 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Are arranged as follows. The die set, drive mechanism, cart device, powder filling device, product take-out device, etc. are also arranged on the opposite side (right side in FIG. 1) of the sintering machine, and sintering is performed using two die sets. You may do it.
[0009]
1 and 2, the support device 10 includes a frame 11 assembled into a rectangular shape and a pair of guide rails 12 fixed on the frame. The guide rail 12 extends in a direction along the line XX.
2 and 3, the sintering machine 2 moves up and down to a plurality of (four in this embodiment) struts 21 which are fixed to the base 20 in an upright state, and to the struts 21 at the top of the base 20. The movable table 22 guided as possible, the lower energizing and pressing member 23 fixed to the movable table 22 at the center position of the sintering machine (on line AA in FIG. 3), and the upper end of the column 21 The upper support plate 24, the upper energizing / pressurizing member 25 disposed and fixed on the upper support plate 24 so as to face the lower energizing / pressurizing member 23, and the movable table 22 provided in the center of the table 20 are moved up and down. And an actuator 26. The lower energizing / pressurizing member 23 projects a desired length upward from the movable table 22, and the upper energizing / pressurizing member 25 projects a desired length downward from the upper support plate 24. Although not shown, a cooling passage is formed in the lower and upper energization pressurizing members, and the energization pressurizing members are cooled by passing a cooling fluid such as water through the cooling passage. Both energization pressurizing members are made of, for example, stainless steel. The lower energizing pressure member 23 is electrically insulated from the movable table 22 and the actuator 26 by a known method, and the upper energizing pressure member 25 is electrically insulated from the upper support plate 24 by a known method. ing. The lower and upper energization pressing members 23 and 25 are connected to the power supply device 28 via separate conductors 27 (27a and 27b), respectively, so that a DC pulse current as a sintering current is supplied from the power supply device. It has become. The actuator may be a fluid pressure cylinder such as a hydraulic cylinder, but may be another device such as a servo motor driving device.
In the sintering machine, when a die set 3 having a configuration to be described later arrives at the sintering position, the actuator 26 operates to connect a lower punch member and an upper punch member to be described later of the die set 3 with the upper energizing pressure member 25. A desired amount of sintering current (DC pulse) is applied to the powder material filled in the sintering mold through the both energizing pressing members, the lower and upper punch members, and the sintering mold from the power supply device 28. Current) and the powder material is sintered.
[0010]
The sintering machine 2 further includes a housing 29 that defines a vacuum or inert gas atmosphere chamber in the space for sintering. The housing 29 has a side wall 291 that surrounds the four sides inside an area defined by the four support columns 21, a bottom wall 292 that is hermetically connected to the lower edge of the side wall 291, and a hermetic seal at the upper edge of the side wall 291. The upper wall 293 connected in a state is provided, and the sintering chamber SC is defined by these walls. The bottom wall 292 is supported by a plurality (four in this example) of upright frames 201 of the base 30. The lower energizing / pressurizing member 23 extends through the hole formed in the bottom wall 292 from the lower side of the housing 29 to the upper side in the sintering chamber. A sealing device having a known structure for sealing a gap between the lower energizing and pressing member and the bottom wall is provided on the bottom wall. The upper energizing / pressurizing member 25 extends through the hole formed in the upper wall 293 and into the sintering chamber. A sealing device having a known structure for sealing a gap between the upper energizing and pressing member and the upper wall is provided on the upper wall. An entrance / exit 294 sized to allow the die set 3 to enter and exit the sintering chamber SC is formed on one side of the side wall (the left side in FIG. 1), and a gate valve having a known structure is formed on the side where the entrance / exit is formed. (Not shown) is arranged. The gate valve closes the entrance / exit 294 to seal the inside of the sintering chamber from the surroundings when the die set enters and exits the sintering chamber (when out of the sintering chamber if necessary). The inside of the sintering chamber is connected to an evacuation apparatus having a known structure and function and / or an inert gas supply apparatus (both not shown) by a known method, and the vacuum chamber is filled with a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas. The atmosphere can be changed. The side wall, the bottom wall, and the top wall may have a double structure, and a cooling fluid such as water may be circulated therein to cool the housing.
[0011]
1, 4 and 5, the die set 3 includes a plate-like (in this embodiment, a plate having a rectangular plane) and a plurality of (this embodiment) attached to the movable table 30 in an upright state. Then, two guide rods 31 as a guide member separated from each other in the diameter direction, and a plate shape (in the present embodiment, a flat surface disposed above the movable table 30 and guided by the guide rod 31 so as to be movable in the vertical direction). Is a rectangular plate-like) support member 32 as a lifting platform, and a sintering die 33 disposed between the movable table 30 and the support member 32 and guided by the guide rod 31 so as to be vertically movable. A lower punch member 34 mounted in a hole 331 penetrating in the vertical direction of the sintering die 33, and an upper punch member 35 attached to the support member 32 in alignment with the hole 331 of the sintering die 33. Yes. In the present embodiment, the sintering die 33 has an annular shape, and a flange portion 332 is formed on the outer peripheral portion. The flange portion 332 is formed with a plurality of through holes 333 that penetrate vertically (two places on the opposite side in the diameter direction in this embodiment), and the guide rod 31 is received in the through hole 333. An insulating member is disposed between the guide rod and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 333 to electrically insulate them. The lower part of the sintering mold 33 (the lower part from the flange part 332) is loosely received in the hole 301 formed in the movable table 30, and is between the outer peripheral surface of the sintering mold and the inner peripheral surface of the hole 301 of the movable table. A gap g is formed in the gap. The sintering mold 33 is configured such that the flange portion 332 is placed on the movable table 30. In order to electrically insulate between the sintering mold 33 and the movable table 30, between the lower surface of the flange portion 332 and the upper surface of the movable table (the lower surface of the flange portion or (and) the flange portion of the upper surface of the movable table 33). An insulating member is disposed on the portion on which is mounted. An insulating member may be disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the hole 301 of the movable table 30. An annular protrusion 334 that protrudes inward in the radial direction is formed on the lower inner peripheral surface of the sintered through hole 331. The protrusion 334 engages with an annular protrusion 341 formed on the outer periphery of the upper end of the lower punch member 34 to prevent the lower punch member from falling out of the through hole. The upper punch member 35 and the lifting platform, ie, the support member 32 are insulated from each other by a known method, for example, between the contact surfaces of the upper punch member and the support member and between the contact surfaces of the fixing stopper and the upper punch. It is electrically insulated, for example by disposing a member. Since the sintered mold is heated to a high temperature as the insulating member, a non-conductive ceramic or a material that can withstand high temperatures such as a combination of a metal plate having a cooling structure and a resin insulating material is used.
[0012]
The die set 3 further includes a plurality of actuators 36 (up to four in this embodiment) each for moving up and down, that is, the actuator 36 for moving the support member 32 up and down and the actuator 37 for moving the sintering die 33 up and down. Is attached to the lower surface of the movable table 30 as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the actuator 36 is a fluid pressure cylinder such as an air cylinder. The cylinder body 361 is fixed by a known method with the cylinder body 361 standing upright on the movable base, and the tip (upper end in FIG. 3) of the piston rod 362 is fixed. The support member 32 is fixed. The actuator 37 is also a fluid pressure cylinder such as an air cylinder in this embodiment, and the cylinder main body 371 is electrically insulated from the movable base by an insulating member similar to the above-described insulating member while standing upright on the movable base 30. The tip of the piston rod 372 (the upper end in FIG. 4) is fixed to the flange portion 332 of the sintering mold 33. The sintering die 33, the lower punch member 34, and the upper punch member 35 are made of an iron-based alloy such as die steel, for example, when sintering a metal material having a low melting point such as an aluminum alloy powder or a light metal powder material. For example, when sintering a material having a high melting point such as a tungsten alloy powder material, graphite or conductive ceramics (eg, titanium diboride (TiB ₂ ), Silicon carbide (SiC)). The lower end portion of the upper punch member 35 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the support member 32, and has a size that can fit into the hole 331 of the sintering die 33. The lower end surface of the lower punch member 34 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the movable table 30 and can come into contact with the upper end surface of the lower energizing / pressurizing member 23 of the sintering machine 2 as will be described later. Further, the upper end surface of the upper punch member 35 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the support member 32 and can come into contact with the lower end surface of the upper energization pressing member 25 of the sintering machine. In addition, although not shown in figure in the lower part and the upper electricity supply pressurization member, the cooling passage which flows a cooling fluid is formed and it can cool.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, the drive mechanism 4 includes a fluid pressure cylinder 41 that is rotatably attached to a bracket 40 provided on a fixed base 50 of the carriage device 5. A substantially central portion of the cylinder body 411 of the fluid pressure cylinder 41 is attached so that the bracket 40 can rotate. The tip of the piston rod 412 is connected to a connection member 43 attached to the lower portion 301 of the base plate 30 of the die set 3.
The center of the die set 3 is reciprocated between the sintering position A and the filling / removing position B on the guide rail by the operation of the fluid pressure cylinder 41.
In addition, although the said Example demonstrated the case where the guide rod of a die set was two, four may be sufficient. Further, although the case where there are four first and second actuators has been described, one or three actuators may be used depending on the size and shape of the die set.
[0014]
1, 2, and 6, the cart device 5 is disposed at a position C that is centered at a distance L2 from the filling / removing position B (same as shown in FIG. 1) to the opposite side of the sintering position A. In addition, the fixed base 50, the movable base 51 provided on the fixed base 50 so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction perpendicular to the line XX (the direction along the line Y-Y), and the movable base 51 are moved. And a dolly drive mechanism 52.
The fixed base 50 is attached to the base plate 501, the base frame 503 attached to the base plate 501 by a plurality of (four in this embodiment) support columns 502, and the base frame 503 in the direction of line YY. A pair of extending guide rails 504 is provided. The movable base 51 is composed of a rectangular base plate 511, and a roller (not shown) that rolls on the guide rail 504 is attached to the lower surface of the movable base 51 by a known method. As a result, the movable base 51 can move on the guide rail of the fixed base. The carriage drive mechanism 52 includes a screw shaft 522 that is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 521 at the center position of the base frame 503, an electric servo motor 523 that is fixed to the base frame and rotates the screw shaft 522, and a movable base And a female screw member (not shown) in which a female screw is formed to be engaged with a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the screw shaft 522.
The movable platform 51 is configured so that the screw shaft 522 of the carriage drive mechanism is rotated in the forward direction and the reverse direction by the electric servo motor 523, so that the forward direction (upward direction in FIG. 6) and the reverse direction (in FIG. 6). Move down). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the movable base 51 is always at the base end position of the base frame 503 (the position farthest from the servo motor 523 of the cart drive mechanism in the figure).
In addition, when only the powder filling apparatus to be described later is mounted on the movable table 51, a fixed structure may be used instead of the movable structure as described above.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the powder filling device 6 is shown mounted on a movable table 51 in this embodiment.
The powder filling device 6 is connected to a guide rail 61 on a long mounting base fixed in parallel with the line XX at a position E on the movable base 51 (the upper end of the movable base 51 in FIG. 6) by a known method. A slider 62 supported so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction parallel to −X (left and right in FIG. 6), an actuator 63 for moving the slider 62, and a tip of the slider 62 (right end in FIGS. 1 and 6). And a small movable hopper 64 that can discharge a predetermined amount of the powder material from the lower end portion into the sintered mold body, and an open / close valve (not shown) of the movable hopper 64. And an actuator 65 for opening and closing. The actuators 63 and 65 are fluid pressure cylinders such as air cylinders in this embodiment, but other mechanisms such as an electric motor type may be used. Since the movable hopper and the on-off valve may have a known structure, description thereof is omitted. If the powder material to be sintered is an aluminum alloy powder, a heater may be incorporated in the movable hopper itself, and the powder material placed in the movable hopper may be heated and kept warm. Also, in order to fill a predetermined amount when filling the powder material, the powder material may be filled into the measuring container containing the predetermined amount and then filled with the powder material in the measuring container, or You may fill while measuring with a measuring instrument. When the movable platform 51 is in the base end position, the powder material is such that the center of the movable hopper 64 is positioned on the line XX. The powder filling device 6 may further include a fixed supply hopper 67 that supplies powder material into the movable hopper when the movable hopper is in the rest position. When the powder material is an aluminum alloy or the like and it is necessary to keep the temperature at a predetermined temperature, the supply hopper may also be provided with a heater.
In the powder filling apparatus 6, when the die set 3 is stopped at the filling / unloading position B and the die set is in the powder material filling process, the slider 62 is moved to the left in FIG. 7, the movable hopper 64 moves immediately above the sintering mold 34 arriving at the filling / removing position B, and the actuator 65 operates to open the on-off valve (not shown). A predetermined amount of powder material is filled into the hole 331 of the sintering mold 33.
In addition, on the movable stand 51, the lower end surface of the upper punch member is cleaned with a brush or the like, which is cleaned (brushed) in parallel with the powder filling device with a brush or the like rotating in the hole of the sintering die ( You may arrange | position the cleaning apparatus to brush.
[0016]
In this embodiment, the product take-out device 7 includes a take-out mechanism 70 disposed adjacent to the powder filling device 6 on the movable base 50, and an air disposed below the die set 3 at the position of the filling / unloading position B. A hydraulically operated knockout cylinder 78 such as a cylinder. The knockout cylinder 78 operates when the die set comes to the position B after the sintering is completed, and the piston rod 781 pushes the lower punch member 34 and the sintered product relatively upward with respect to the sintering mold, thereby firing the sintered product. Push out of the mold. The take-out mechanism 70 is disposed adjacent to the powder filling device 6 at a position F (in FIG. 7), a guide rail 71 disposed on the mounting base in parallel with the guide rail 61 of the powder filling device, and a guide rail 71, a slider 72 supported so as to be reciprocally movable by a known method, an actuator 73 for reciprocating the slider 72, and a chuck 74 attached to the tip of the slider 72 (the right end in FIG. 6). The chuck 74 has a known structure and function, and grips and takes out a sintered product pushed out of the sintering mold with a pair of gripping claws.
[0017]
Next, the operation of the sintering system of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
When filling the powder material into the sintering mold 33, the die set 3 is moved by the drive mechanism 4 so that the center OO is moved to the filling / removing position B, and the support member 32 is as shown in FIG. The sintered mold 33 is pushed up to the uppermost position, and the flange portion 332 is placed on the movable table 30 at the lowermost position. In this state, the upper end surface of the sintering mold and the lower end surface of the upper punch member 35 are greatly separated. In this state, the powder supply device 6 operates to move the movable hopper 64 directly above the sintering mold 33 to a position directly below the upper punch member 32. A predetermined amount of the powder material P is transferred from the movable hopper 64 into the sintering mold. To fill.
When the filling of the powder material into the sintering mold 33 is completed, the actuator 36 operates to lower the lifting platform, that is, the support member 32 by a predetermined distance as shown in FIG. Stops in a state where it enters the hole 331 of the sintering mold 33 slightly. In this state, the height H of the die set 3 (the height from the lower end surface of the lower punch member 34 to the upper end surface of the upper punch member 35) is the upper end of the lower energization pressing member 23 of the sintering machine 2 in standby. And the distance between the lower end surface of the upper energization pressing member 25 and the die set 3 can be set in the sintering machine. Therefore, the drive mechanism 4 operates to move the die set 3 to the sintering position A. At this time, the upper end surface of the upper punch 36 is positioned slightly lower than the lower end surface of the upper energizing and pressing member 25 of the sintering machine.
[0018]
When the die set 3 arrives at the sintering position A, the sintering machine 2 operates and, as shown in FIG. 8C, the lower energizing pressurizing member 23 is raised by the pressurizing device 26 and the lower punch member 34 is moved. The powder material P and the entire upper punch member 35 are raised until the upper end surface of the upper punch member comes into contact with the lower end surface of the upper energizing and pressing member 25, and the actuator 37 of the die set 3 operates to move the sintering die 33. Raise as shown in FIG. At this time, the actuator 36 is movable in a non-pressurized state and is free to operate, and the upper punch member and the support member 32 to which the upper punch member is attached are pushed up by raising the lower punch member. When the pressurizing device, that is, the actuator 26 presses the lower punch member 34 toward the upper energizing pressurizing member 25 with a pressurizing force based on the sintering condition, the upper end surface of the upper punch contacts the lower surface of the upper energizing pressurizing member 25. The powder material in the sintering mold is pressed by the upper punch and the lower punch, and a predetermined amount within a current condition range preset in the program is applied to the powder material P via both energizing pressing members and both punch members. Sintering is performed by passing a sintering current (DC pulse current).
After the sintering is completed, according to the program setting, the pressurization by the actuator 26 is released and stopped, the lower energizing pressurizing member 23 is lowered, and the actuators 36 and 37 of the die set 3 are operated to support the support member 32 and the upper punch The member 35 and the sintering mold are moved to the state shown in FIG. After the die set 3 is in this state, the drive mechanism 4 operates to move the die set to the filling / removing position B.
[0019]
When the die set 3 arrives at the filling / unloading position B, first, the actuator 36 operates to raise the support member 32 to the uppermost position as shown in FIG. 8D. Next, the knockout cylinder 78 operates to push up the lower punch member 34 of the die set. At this time, the actuator 37 is locked (mechanically or fluidically) so that the sintered mold does not move with the lower punch member. As a result, the sintered product M is pushed by the lower punch member 34 and slightly comes out above the sintering die 33 as shown in FIG. In this state, the slider 72 of the take-out mechanism 70 moves to move the chuck 74 into the die set, and the sintered product M is taken out by the chuck. The sintered product taken out from the die set by the take-out mechanism is placed on the conveyor 75 disposed below the chuck 76 at the position B, and sent to a predetermined position by the conveyor.
Thereafter, the same operation is repeated to sinter the powder material to produce a sintered product.
Depending on the type of powder material, it may be necessary to perform sintering in a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas atmosphere. In that case, before the die set 3 is set in the sintering machine and the sintering is started, the inside of the sintering chamber SC in the housing 29 is sealed from the outside air, and a vacuum atmosphere (for example, by a vacuum exhaust device not shown) 6 MPa (4.5 × 10 ^-2 Torr or less)), or after evacuating, an inert gas is supplied from an inert gas supply device (not shown) to create an inert gas atmosphere.
[0020]
FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a sintering machine 2a incorporating the die set of the present invention. In this embodiment, the structure and function of the die set is that the die set cannot be moved between the sintering position A and the filling / unloading position B and is always arranged in the sintering chamber SC of the sintering machine. Except for this, it is the same as in the previous embodiment. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In the die set built-in type sintering machine 2a of this embodiment, since the die set is fixed at a fixed position, the support device 10a for the die set 3 is disposed in the sintering chamber SC and mounted on the bottom plate of the housing 29. It can be supported by being supported or placed on the upper end of the upright frame 201 of the table 20.
In the above-described sintering machine, the lower punch member needs to be raised in order to extrude the sintered product to the outside of the sintering mold after completion of the sintering. However, in this embodiment, since there is no knockout cylinder, the lower energizing pressure member 23 Is pushed up by the actuator 26, and the lower punch member 34 is pushed up by the lower energizing pressure member. In this embodiment, it is necessary to increase the required moving distance of the lower energization pressing member. In this case, the actuator stroke may be increased.
Further, the powder material can be filled into the sintering mold and the sintered product can be taken out by using the powder filling device 6 and the product taking-out device 7 of the above embodiment, but the die set moves to the position B. Therefore, the relationship between the center position A of the sintering machine and the position of the center of the cart device 5 on which these devices are mounted may be equal to the relationship between the position B and the position C in the above embodiment.
In particular, in the latter embodiment, since the die set is always installed in the sintering chamber, there may be a case where the operation of the actuator or the like is hindered due to high temperature. Each can be covered with a water-cooled cover. In addition, it is necessary to cool the sintering mold after the completion of sintering. In that case, a cooling block having a structure that can be cooled by passing cooling water or the like inside is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sintering mold (sintering mold). When the outer periphery has an arcuate surface, the cooling block has an arcuate surface that matches the arcuate surface, and when the outer periphery has a flat surface, the cooling block has a flat surface. That's fine. Furthermore, when a powder material having a low melting point is sintered as in the case of an aluminum alloy, when it is desired to keep the sintering mold warm, a heater may be incorporated in the sintering mold.
[0021]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which one sintered body is formed by one sintering operation has been described. However, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a plurality of sintering molds 33b (for example, the center of the sintering mold is the center). A plurality of through holes 331b (three examples are shown in the figure) are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the upper punch also corresponds to the number of through holes of the sintered mold. (The lower punch may be one having a size that closes the lower ends of all the through holes.) A plurality of sintered bodies may be formed by a single sintering operation. Further, a plurality of sintered bodies may be formed by sintering a plurality of layers of powder material at a time by filling a powder material in a sintering mold with two or more layers by interposing a spacer therebetween.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(B) Sintering of a metal or non-metal material having a low melting point such as aluminum or an alloy thereof, as well as a metal or non-metal material having a high melting point such as a tungsten alloy, is performed continuously at high speed. be able to.
(B) With the die set method having an insulating structure, the upper and lower punches and the sintering die can be accurately positioned at the sintering position.
(C) The die set system having an insulating structure prevents the sintered mold from being damaged even if the punch is inserted into the sintered mold.
(D) The die set system having an insulating structure can be operated with a fast cycle time, and the production efficiency can be improved.
(E) Improvement of reproducibility and reliability can be achieved by a die set system having an insulating structure.
(F) High-speed and precise sintering can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall side view of an embodiment of a die set type pulse electric current pressure sintering system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire pulsed electric current pressure sintering system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a combination of a pulse energizing pressure sintering machine and a die set used in the pulse energizing pressure sintering system of FIG. 1;
4 is a side view of a die set used in the pulse energization pressure sintering system of FIG. 1, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line QQ in FIG. 5;
5 is a cross-sectional plan view of the die set of FIG. 5 as viewed along line RR. FIG.
6 is a plan view showing a cart device, a powder filling device, and a product take-out device used in the pulse energization pressure sintering system of FIG. 1. FIG.
7 is a view showing the cart device, the powder filling device, and the product take-out device of FIG. 6, and is a view seen along line S-S of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a side view of a die set for explaining powder filling, movement of a die set into a sintering machine, sintering, and a state in which a sintered product is taken out.
FIG. 9 is a side view of a die set built-in type pulse current pressure sintering machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a sintered mold.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Pulse current pressure sintering system
2 Pulse current pressure sintering machine
23 Lower energizing pressure member 25 Upper energizing pressure member
3 Die set
30 Base table 31 Guide rod
32 Support member 33 Sintered mold
34 Lower punch member 35 Upper punch member
36, 37 Actuator
4 Drive mechanism 5 Dolly device
6 Powder filling equipment 7 Product removal equipment

Claims

In a die set for a pulsed electric current pressure sintering machine, a powder material to be sintered is sintered by applying a desired pressure and a desired direct-current pulse current to obtain a sintered body.
A movable stage movable between a first position and a second position separated from the first position;
A sintered mold that is electrically insulated with respect to the movable base and is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction and has a hole penetrating vertically;
A guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicular to the movable table and guides the movement of the sintered mold;
A lower punch member movably disposed in the sintered mold hole;
A support member that is guided by the guide member and arranged to be movable with respect to the movable base;
A die set for a pulse current pressurizing and sintering machine, comprising: an upper punch member that is electrically insulated from and attached to the support member and can be inserted into the hole of the sintering mold.

It has upper and lower energized pressure members that can move relative to each other, and applies a desired pressure and a desired DC pulse current to the powder material to be sintered through the energized pressure members and sinters them. In a die set for a pulsed current pressure sintering machine to be a sintered body,
A table disposed at the sintering position;
A sintered mold that has a hole that is electrically insulated from the base and arranged to be movable in the vertical direction and penetrates in the vertical direction;
A guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicular to the table and guides the movement of the sintering mold;
A lower punch member movably disposed in the sintered mold hole;
A support member guided by the guide member and arranged to be movable with respect to the table;
An upper punch member that is electrically insulated and attached to the support member, and is insertable into the hole of the sintered mold,
A die set in which the sintered body after sintering is pushed out of the sintering mold by pushing up the lower punch with respect to the sintering mold by a lower energization pressing member of the pulse energizing pressure sintering machine.

It has a pulsed current pressure sintering machine to be sintered by applying a desired pressure and a desired direct current pulse current to the powder material to be sintered, and a sintering mold in which the powder material is put. In combination with a die set,
The pulse energizing pressure sintering machine is connected to the energizing / pressurizing member with a pair of upper and lower energizing / pressing members, at least one of which is relatively movable with respect to the other, and a desired pulse current is applied to the energizing / pressing member. A power supply device that supplies the pressure member, and a pressure device that moves the at least one energizing pressure member up and down,
The die set is movable between a first position and a second position separated from the first position, and is movable in the vertical direction while being electrically insulated from the movable base. And a guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicular to the movable base and guides the movement of the sintering die, and moves to the hole of the sintering die. A lower punch member arranged in a possible manner, a support member guided by the guide member and arranged so as to be movable with respect to the movable base, and electrically insulated and attached to the support member, the sintered mold An upper punch member that can be inserted into the hole of
Combination of pulse energizing pressure sintering machine and die set.

It has a pulsed current pressure sintering machine to be sintered by applying a desired pressure and a desired direct current pulse current to the powder material to be sintered, and a sintering mold in which the powder material is put. In combination with a die set,
The pulse energizing pressure sintering machine is connected to the energizing / pressurizing member with a pair of upper and lower energizing / pressing members, at least one of which is relatively movable with respect to the other, and a desired pulse current is applied to the energizing / pressing member. A power supply device that supplies the pressure member, and a pressure device that moves the at least one energizing pressure member up and down,
The die set is a stand disposed at the sintering position, a sintering die that is electrically insulated from the stand and is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and has a hole penetrating vertically. A guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicularly to guide the movement of the sintering die, a lower punch member that is movably arranged in the hole of the sintering die, and a guide that is guided by the guide member A support member disposed so as to be movable; and an upper punch member that is electrically insulated from the support member and is inserted into the hole of the sintered mold.
A pulse energization pressure sintering machine which pushes out the lower punch with respect to the sintering mold by the lower energization pressing member of the pulse energizing pressure sintering machine after the sintering is completed and puts it out of the sintering mold And die set combination.

5. A combination of a pulsed electric pressure sintering machine and a die set according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pulsed electric pressure sintering machine defines a sintering chamber that can be controlled to a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas atmosphere. A combination comprising a housing.

In a pulsed electric current pressure sintering system in which a desired pressure force and a desired direct-current pulse current are applied to a powder material to be sintered and sintered,
At least one of the upper and lower pair of energizing and pressing members capable of moving up and down relatively with respect to the other, the power supply device connected to the energizing and pressing member and supplying a desired pulse current to the energizing and pressing member, and the at least one A pulse energizing pressure sintering machine equipped with a pressurizing device for moving the energizing pressurizing member up and down;
A section having a sintering mold filled with the powder material, and a first position that is a sintering position by the sintering machine and a second position that is separated from the first position by a desired distance At least one die set capable of linear reciprocating movement,
When the die set is in the second position, a filling device capable of filling a powder material into the sintering mold and a take-out device capable of taking out the sintered body,
The die set is
A movable stage movable between a first position and a second position separated from the first position;
A sintered mold that is electrically insulated with respect to the movable base and is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction and has a hole penetrating vertically;
A guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicular to the movable table and guides the movement of the sintered mold;
A lower punch member movably disposed in the sintered mold hole;
A support member that is guided by the guide member and arranged to be movable with respect to the movable base;
A die set type pulse energization pressure sintering system comprising: an upper punch member that is electrically insulated and attached to the support member and can be inserted into the hole of the sintering mold.

In a pulsed electric current pressure sintering system in which a desired pressure force and a desired direct-current pulse current are applied to a powder material to be sintered and sintered,
At least one of the upper and lower pair of energizing and pressing members capable of moving up and down relatively with respect to the other, the power supply device connected to the energizing and pressing member and supplying a desired pulse current to the energizing and pressing member, and the at least one A pulse energizing pressure sintering machine equipped with a pressurizing device for moving the energizing pressurizing member up and down;
Having a sintering mold filled with the powder material, filling and sintering the powder material into the sintering mold by relative movement of the sintering mold and the upper and lower punch members at the sintering position by the sintering machine A die set that allows removal of the body at the sintering location;
A filling device capable of filling a powder material into the sintering mold of the die set;
The die set is
A table disposed at the sintering position;
A sintered mold that has a hole that is electrically insulated from the base and is arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction and penetrates up and down;
A guide member that is fixed substantially perpendicular to the table and guides the movement of the sintering mold;
A lower punch member movably disposed in the sintered mold hole;
A support member guided by the guide member and arranged to be movable with respect to the table;
An upper punch member that is electrically insulated and attached to the support member, and that can be inserted into the hole of the sintered mold,
A die set type electric pressure sintering system in which the sintered body after sintering is pushed out of the sintering die by pushing up the lower punch with respect to the sintering die by the lower energization pressing member.