Method and apparatus for forming sheet metal

Abstract

A forming tool has an upper portion composed of an upper forming die arranged between a first clamping element and a second clamping element, and a lower portion composed of a lower forming die arranged between a third clamping element and a fourth clamping element. The first clamping element and the third clamping element cooperate to exert a first clamping force on a workpiece; and the second clamping element and the fourth clamping element cooperate to exert a second clamping force on the workpiece. The upper forming die cooperates with the first and second clamping elements and the lower forming die cooperates with the third and fourth clamping elements to exert a lateral force on the workpiece when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when a vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A forming tool, comprising:
 an upper portion composed of an upper forming die arranged between a first clamping element and a second clamping element;   a lower portion composed of a lower forming die arranged between a third clamping element and a fourth clamping element;   wherein the first clamping element and the third clamping element cooperate to exert a first clamping force on a workpiece; and   wherein the second clamping element and the fourth clamping element cooperate to exert a second clamping force on the workpiece;   wherein the upper forming die cooperates with the first and second clamping elements and the lower forming die cooperates with the third and fourth clamping elements to exert a lateral force on the workpiece when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when a vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die.   
     
     
         2 . The forming tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper forming die cooperates with the first and second clamping elements and the lower forming die cooperates with the third and fourth clamping elements to exert a lateral tensile force on the workpiece when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when the vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die. 
     
     
         3 . The forming tool of  claim 2 , comprising:
 the upper forming die being a wedge-shape die having a first tool end, a first wedge face, a second wedge face, and a first base portion;   the lower forming die being a wedge-shaped die having a second tool end, a third wedge face, a fourth wedge face, and a second base portion; and   wherein the first tool end cooperates with the second tool end to form an offset feature in the workpiece when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when the vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die.   
     
     
         4 . The forming tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper forming die cooperates with the first and second clamping elements and the lower forming die cooperates with the third and fourth clamping elements to exert a lateral compressive force on the workpiece when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when the vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die. 
     
     
         5 . The forming tool of  claim 4 , comprising:
 the upper forming die being a wedge-shape die having a first tool end, a first wedge face, a second wedge face, and a first base portion;   the lower forming die being a wedge-shaped die having a second tool end, a third wedge face, a fourth wedge face, and a second base portion; and   wherein the first tool end cooperates with the second tool end to form an offset feature in the workpiece when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when the vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die.   
     
     
         6 . The forming tool of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the upper forming die is a wedge-shape die having a first tool end, a first wedge face, a second wedge face, and a first base portion;   wherein the first clamping element includes a first grip surface and a first angled surface;   wherein the second clamping element includes a second grip surface and a second angled surface;   wherein the first angled surface of the first clamping element interfaces with the first wedge face of the upper forming die; and   wherein the second angled surface of the first clamping element interfaces with the second wedge face of the upper forming die.   
     
     
         7 . The forming tool of  claim 6 :
 wherein the first angled surface of the first clamping element defines a first channel;   wherein the second angled surface of the second clamping element defines a second channel;   wherein the first wedge face of the upper forming die includes a first rail;   wherein the second wedge face of the upper forming die includes a second rail;   wherein the first channel of the first angled surface of the first clamping element interfaces with the first rail of the first wedge face of the upper forming die;   wherein the second channel of the second angled surface of the second clamping element interfaces with the second rail of the second wedge face of the upper forming die; and   wherein the first channel in cooperation with the first rail and the second channel in cooperation with the second rail cooperate to guide the upper forming die in relation to the first clamping element and in relation to the second clamping element when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when the vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die.   
     
     
         8 . The forming tool of  claim 6 , comprising the first grip surface and the second grip surface defining a horizontal plane;
 wherein the first angled surface of the first clamping element and the first wedge face of the upper forming die are arranged at a first angle in relation to the horizontal plane;   wherein the second angled surface of the second clamping element and the second wedge face of the upper forming die are arranged at a second angle in relation to the horizontal plane; and   wherein the first angle is complementarily opposed to the second angle.   
     
     
         9 . The forming tool of  claim 8 , comprising the first angle and the second angle being complementary acute angles in relation to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         10 . The forming tool of  claim 8 , comprising the first angle and the second angle being complementary obtuse angles in relation to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         11 . The forming tool of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lower forming die is a wedge-shaped die having a second tool end, a third wedge face, a fourth wedge face, and a second base portion;   wherein the third clamping element includes a third grip surface and a third angled surface;   wherein the fourth clamping element includes a fourth grip surface and a fourth angled surface;   wherein the third angled surface of the third clamping element interfaces with the third wedge face of the lower forming die; and   wherein the fourth angled surface of the third clamping element interfaces with the fourth wedge face of the lower forming die.   
     
     
         12 . The forming tool of  claim 11 :
 wherein the third angled surface of the third clamping element defines a third channel;   wherein the fourth angled surface of the fourth clamping element defines a fourth channel;   wherein the third wedge face of the lower forming die includes a third rail;   wherein the fourth wedge face of the lower forming die includes a fourth rail;   wherein the third channel of the third angled surface of the third clamping element interfaces with the third rail of the third wedge face of the lower forming die;   wherein the fourth channel of the fourth angled surface of the fourth clamping element interfaces with the fourth rail of the fourth wedge face of the lower forming die; and   wherein the third channel in cooperation with the third rail and the fourth channel in cooperation with the fourth rail cooperate to guide the lower forming die in relation to the third clamping element and in relation to the fourth clamping element when the first and second clamping forces are being exerted on the workpiece and when the vertical compressive force is being exerted upon the lower forming die and the lower forming die.   
     
     
         13 . The forming tool of  claim 11 , comprising the third grip surface and the fourth grip surface defining a horizontal plane;
 wherein the third angled surface of the third clamping element and the third wedge face of the lower forming die are arranged at a third angle in relation to the horizontal plane;   wherein the fourth angled surface of the fourth clamping element and the fourth wedge face of the lower forming die are arranged at a fourth angle in relation to the horizontal plane; and   wherein the third angle is complementarily opposed to the fourth angle.   
     
     
         14 . The forming tool of  claim 13 , comprising the third angle and the fourth angle being complementary acute angles in relation to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         15 . The forming tool of  claim 13 , comprising the third angle and the fourth angle being complementary obtuse angles in relation to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         16 . The forming tool of  claim 13 , further comprising a loading component arranged on one of the upper forming die or the lower forming die, wherein the loading component is arranged to urge the upper forming die or the lower forming die to a neutral position. 
     
     
         17 . A metal forming tool, comprising:
 a first workpiece gripper and a second workpiece gripper, wherein the first workpiece gripper and the second workpiece gripper are arranged to secure a workpiece; and   a first wedge-shaped stamping die and a second wedge-shaped stamping die;   wherein the first wedge-shaped stamping die, the second wedge-shaped stamping die, the first workpiece gripper and the second workpiece gripper cooperate to exert a lateral force on the workpiece when a vertical compressive force is exerted on the first wedge-shaped stamping die and the second wedge-shaped stamping die.   
     
     
         18 . The metal forming tool of  claim 17 , comprising:
 the first wedge-shaped stamping die including a first tool end; and   the second wedge-shaped stamping die including a second tool end;   wherein the first wedge-shaped stamping die, the second wedge-shaped stamping die, the first workpiece gripper and the second workpiece gripper cooperate to exert a tensile lateral force on the workpiece and wherein the first tool end cooperates with the second tool end to form an offset feature in the workpiece when the vertical compressive force is exerted on the first wedge-shaped stamping die and the second wedge-shaped stamping die.   
     
     
         19 . The metal forming tool of  claim 17 , comprising:
 the first wedge-shaped stamping die including a first tool end; and   the second wedge-shaped stamping die including a second tool end;   wherein the first wedge-shaped stamping die, the second wedge-shaped stamping die, the first workpiece gripper and the second workpiece gripper cooperate to exert a lateral compressive force on the workpiece and wherein the first tool end cooperates with the second tool end to form an offset feature in the workpiece when the vertical compressive force is exerted on the first wedge-shaped stamping die and the second wedge-shaped stamping die.   
     
     
         20 . A method for forming a metallic workpiece, the method comprising:
 inserting a sheet metal workpiece into a metal forming tool including an upper forming die and a lower forming die;   exerting, via a first workpiece gripper and a second workpiece gripper, a lateral force on the workpiece and coincidently executing a vertical compressive force upon the upper forming die and the lower forming die, wherein the upper forming die includes a first tool end, and wherein the lower forming die includes a second tool end; and   forming, via the first tool end and the second tool end, an offset feature in the workpiece.