US 12,103,068 B2
Smart trim die assembly
Wally Kroeger, Tianjin (CN); Joyce Liu, Tianjin (CN); Owen Li, Tianjin (CN); Lee Zhao, Tianjin (CN); and Les Shuman, Brampton (CA)
Assigned to MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC., Aurora (CA)
Appl. No. 17/923,642
Filed by MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC., Aurora (CA)
PCT Filed May 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/CN2020/088712
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 7, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/223092, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182199 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B22D 17/32 (2006.01); B22D 17/20 (2006.01); B22D 17/22 (2006.01)
CPC B22D 17/32 (2013.01) [B22D 17/2076 (2013.01); B22D 17/22 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A smart trim die assembly comprising:
a first die and a second die moveable relative to the first die between an open position and a closed position during a stroke, and a cavity formed between the first die and the second die in the closed position for casting a part;
an upper trim plate for trimming a boundary around the part when the first die and the second die are moved into close proximity;
at least one sensor for measuring a distance between the first die and the second die;
a first tool integrated into the first die or the second die for performing one of piercing, holding, punching, dimpling, and tapping operations;
a processor; and
a memory device for receiving measurements from the at least one sensor, the memory device further containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, in response to the at least one sensor reading a first predetermined distance:
instruct the first tool to perform one of the piercing, holding, punching, dimpling, and tapping operations.
 
4. A smart trim die assembly comprising:
a first die and a second die moveable relative to the first die between an open position and a closed position during a stroke, and a cavity formed between the first die and the second die in the closed position for casting a part;
a runner cutter for trimming runners around the part when the first die and the second die are moved into close proximity
at least one sensor for measuring a distance between the first die and the second die;
a first tool integrated into the first die or the second die for performing one of piercing, holding, punching, dimpling, and tapping operations;
a processor; and
a memory device for receiving measurements from the at least one sensor, the memory device further containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, in response to the at least one sensor reading a first predetermined distance:
instruct the first tool to perform one of the piercing, holding, punching, dimpling, and tapping operations.
 
5. A smart trim die assembly comprising:
a first die and a second die moveable relative to the first die between an open position and a closed position during a stroke, and a cavity formed between the first die and the second die in the closed position for casting a part;
at least one sensor for measuring a distance between the first die and the second die;
a first tool integrated into the first die or the second die for performing one of piercing, holding, punching, dimpling, and tapping operations, wherein the first tool includes a lower pierce assembly for piercing certain regions of the part;
a processor; and
a memory device for receiving measurements from the at least one sensor, the memory device further containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, in response to the at least one sensor reading a first predetermined distance:
instruct the first tool to perform one of the piercing, holding, punching, dimpling, and tapping operations.