Redraw and ironing system
A can redraw and ironing system includes a ram, a punch, and a sensor system. The ram includes a ram body and a ram nose. The punch is supported on the ram nose and is configured to engage a metal blank during an ironing process. The sensor system includes a first sensor that detects a total force on the ram and a second sensor that detects a force on the ram nose.
1 . A redraw and ironing system comprising:
a ram comprising a ram body and a ram nose elongated along an axis;
a punch supported on the ram nose and configured to engage a metal blank during a redraw and ironing process, wherein the punch comprises a punch nose and a punch sleeve, wherein the punch nose is configured to engage the metal blank during processing, and wherein the punch sleeve is supported on the ram nose between the punch nose and the ram body, and wherein the punch sleeve is movable relative to the punch nose;
a sensor system comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a total force on the ram, and wherein the second sensor is configured to detect a force on a sidewall or on a bottom of a can formed from the metal blank; and
a spacer comprising opposing ends along the axis, the spacer positioned between and abutting the punch nose and the ram nose, wherein a first opposing end of the opposing ends is between the punch nose and the ram nose and contacts the punch nose and a second opposing end of the opposing ends is between the punch nose and the ram nose and contacts the ram nose, wherein the spacer defines a gap between the punch nose and the punch sleeve such that a force on the punch nose is directed to the ram nose before the punch nose engages the punch sleeve.
2 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 1 , wherein the ram nose extends from a front end of the ram body and comprises a ram nose end, wherein the first sensor is on the ram body and wherein the second sensor is on at least one of the ram nose, between the front end of the ram body and the ram nose end, or on the ram nose end.
3 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 1 , wherein the ram body comprises a front end and a back end, wherein the ram nose extends from the front end, and wherein the punch sleeve abuts the ram body at the front end.
4 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive total force data from the first sensor;
receive ram nose force data from the second sensor; and
determine a friction force between the punch and a can body based on the total force data and the ram nose force data.
5 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 1 , wherein the ram comprises an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner chamber, wherein the second sensor is on the outer surface of the ram on the ram nose, and wherein the first sensor is within the inner chamber in the ram body.
6 . A redraw and ironing system comprising:
a ram comprising a ram body and a ram nose;
a punch supported on the ram nose and configured to engage a metal blank during a redraw and ironing process, wherein the punch comprises a punch nose and a punch sleeve, wherein the punch nose is configured to engage the metal blank during processing, and wherein the punch sleeve is supported on the ram nose between the punch nose and the ram body;
a sensor system comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a total force on the ram, and wherein the second sensor is configured to detect a force on a sidewall or on a bottom of a can formed from the metal blank; and
a spacer positioned between and abutting the punch nose and the ram nose and without extending into the ram nose or the punch nose, wherein the spacer defines a gap between the punch nose and the punch sleeve such that a force on the punch nose is directed to the ram nose before the punch nose engages the punch sleeve, wherein the spacer comprises a third sensor of the sensor system configured to detect the force directed from the punch nose to the ram nose.
7 . A redraw and ironing system comprising:
a ram comprising a ram body and a ram nose, the ram body comprising a front end and a back end, wherein the ram nose extends from the front end, and wherein the ram defines an inner chamber extending from the ram body to a ram nose end of the ram nose;
a punch comprising a punch sleeve supported on the ram nose and a punch nose, wherein the punch nose is configured to engage a metal blank during processing, and wherein the punch sleeve is supported on the ram nose between the punch nose and the ram body; and
a sensor system comprising (i) a first sensor positioned within the inner chamber of the ram body and between the punch sleeve and the back end of the ram body and (ii) a second sensor positioned on the ram nose, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a total force on the ram, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect a force on a sidewall or on a bottom of a can formed from a metal blank.
8 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 7 , further comprising a spacer between the punch nose and the ram nose, wherein the spacer defines a gap between the punch nose and the punch sleeve such that a force on the punch nose is directed to the ram nose before the punch nose engages the punch sleeve.
9 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 8 , wherein the spacer comprises a third sensor of the sensor system configured to detect the force directed from the punch nose to the ram nose.
10 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 7 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive total force data from the first sensor;
receive ram nose force data from the second sensor; and
determine a friction force between the punch and a can body based on the total force data and the ram nose force data.
11 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 7 , wherein the second sensor is on an outer surface of the ram on the ram nose.
12 . The redraw and ironing system of claim 11 , further comprising a pressure system configured to apply a constant pressure within the inner chamber.