Method of manufacturing ductile sheet material components

Abstract

A method of manufacturing ductile sheet material brackets ( 12 ) comprises cutting out the shape of a plurality of brackets ( 12 ) in a single piece of ductile sheet material ( 10 ) except for frangible retaining means ( 28 ) retaining the brackets ( 12 ) on the piece of ductile sheet material ( 10 ). The components ( 12 ) are arranged within the piece of ductile sheet material ( 10 ) such that the bend lines ( 14 ) of the brackets ( 12 ) are arranged in at least one common bend line ( 16,18 ). The piece of ductile sheet material ( 10 ) is bent about the at least one common bend line ( 16,18 ) to bend a plurality of brackets ( 12 ) in a single operation. The frangible retaining means ( 28 ) are subsequently broken to allow removal of the brackets ( 12 ) from the piece of ductile sheet material ( 10 ). This reduces manufacturing costs and increases usage of the ductile sheet material ( 10 ).

1 . A method of manufacturing ductile sheet material components comprising cutting out the shape of a plurality of components in a single piece of ductile sheet material except for frangible retaining means retaining the components on the ductile sheet material, arranging the components within the ductile sheet material such that the bend lines of the components are arranged in at least one common bend line and bending the ductile sheet material about the at least one common bend line to bend a plurality of components in a single operation.  
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the method comprises arranging a plurality of components within the ductile sheet material such that the bend lines of the components are arranged in a first common bend line, arranging a plurality of components within the ductile sheet material such that the bend lines of the components are arranged in a second common bend line, bending the ductile sheet material about the first common bend line and bending the ductile sheet material about the second common bend line to bend a plurality of components in a single operation.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first and second common bend lines are parallel.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one bend line is perpendicular to an edge of the ductile sheet material.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the method comprises subsequently breaking the frangible retaining means to remove the components from the ductile sheet material.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the ductile sheet material comprises a metal or an alloy.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the ductile sheet material selected from the group comprising stainless steel, nickel, nickel alloy, aluminium, aluminium alloy, titanium and titanium alloy.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of ductile sheet material components are cut from the ductile sheet material by laser cutting or water jet cutting.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the components are bent at angle in the range 300 to 1500.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the components are bent at angle selected from the group comprising 150°, 135°, 120°, 90°, 60°, 45° and 30°.  
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the components are brackets.  
     
     
         12 . A ductile sheet material comprising a plurality of components and frangible retaining means retaining the components on the ductile sheet material, the ductile sheet material being bent about at least one common bend line, the components being arranged within the ductile sheet material such that the bend lines of the components are arranged in at least one common bend line.  
     
     
         13 . A ductile sheet material as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the ductile sheet material comprises a plurality of components being arranged within the ductile sheet material such that the bend lines of the components are arranged in a first common bend line, a plurality of components being arranged within the ductile sheet material such that the bend lines of the components are arranged in a second common bend line and the ductile sheet material being bent about the first common bend line and being bent about the second common bend line.  
     
     
         14 . A ductile sheet material as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the first and second common bend lines are parallel.  
     
     
         15 . A ductile sheet material as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the at least one bend line is perpendicular to an edge of the ductile sheet material.  
     
     
         16 . A ductile sheet material as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the ductile sheet material comprises a metal or an alloy.  
     
     
         17 . A ductile sheet material as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the ductile sheet material is selected from the group comprising stainless steel, nickel, nickel alloy, aluminium, aluminium alloy, titanium and titanium alloy.  
     
     
         18 . A ductile sheet material as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the components are bent at angle in the range 30° to 150°.  
     
     
         19 . A ductile sheet material as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the component are brackets.