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WO1993019129A2 - Cad/cam production tool fabrication - Google Patents

Cad/cam production tool fabrication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993019129A2
WO1993019129A2 PCT/GB1993/000488 GB9300488W WO9319129A2 WO 1993019129 A2 WO1993019129 A2 WO 1993019129A2 GB 9300488 W GB9300488 W GB 9300488W WO 9319129 A2 WO9319129 A2 WO 9319129A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tool
curable composition
cam
mould
aluminium
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1993/000488
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO1993019129A3 (en
Inventor
John Francis Kelly
Paul Jonathan Hogg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Queen Mary University of London
Original Assignee
Queen Mary and Westfiled College University of London
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Queen Mary and Westfiled College University of London filed Critical Queen Mary and Westfiled College University of London
Priority to EP93905544A priority Critical patent/EP0630393A1/en
Priority to DE0630393T priority patent/DE630393T1/en
Publication of WO1993019129A2 publication Critical patent/WO1993019129A2/en
Publication of WO1993019129A3 publication Critical patent/WO1993019129A3/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L83/00—Compositions of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing silicon with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen or carbon only; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L83/02—Polysilicates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/18—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form
    • G05B19/4097—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P90/00—Enabling technologies with a potential contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
    • Y02P90/02—Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Definitions

  • This invention relates to methods of producing components, such as tools for mass production of articles, from materials by processes such as moulding, vacuum forming, casting, press forming and the like. It has principal application in CAD/CAM engineering i.e. computer aided design and computer aided modelling.
  • Production tools are used for volume product m ifacture, i.e. mass production, for example press forming. It is well known to machine the tool, using relatively laborious and expensive processes, frequently from models generated by commercially available "CAD/CAM” systems. For example one such known "CAD/CAM” system is the MASTERCAM system sold by Unimatic. In the course of making a tool, information contained in an initial drawing is
  • production tools should have specific physical properties, such as desirable values of hardness and/or temperature resistance, they are usually made from a quite different material than the soft material of the model. It is the process of transferring the features of the model to the tool, which is generally the most laborious and expensive part of the tool production process.
  • CAM computer aided modelling
  • representation of the desired tool is converted by said apparatus into machine readable input data, said data is read into a memory of said apparatus, and subsequently interpreted by modelling apparatus which is a part of said CAM apparatus to form a model for the tool from a suitable material, characterised in that the said model for.the tool is formed as a mould and the required tool is cast directly from said mould using a solid-forming, curable composition which exhibits substantial dimensional stability at
  • the present invention also provides in preferred embodiments, methods of producing a component tool of the kind described, from a preliminary model, comprising casting the tool directly from the model using said model as a mould for the tool, preferably from an inorganic resin of the silico-aluminate type.
  • the resin has a silicon : aluminium atomic ratio of 1.
  • Such a material can be cured at room temperature (25 to 50°C) and once cured, can be used in a wide variety of processes (such as injection moulding, vacuum forming, casting of various types, or press forming) at temperatures of up to 500°C or even up to 600°C and is dimensionally very stable.
  • the component drawing 2 of a dish-like production tool in aluminium is translated into machine readable input data form at 4, to be applied to a CAD/CAM machine 6.
  • the CAD/CAM machine used was the commerciallv available MASTERCAM apparatus, supplied by a company called Unimatic. Other known CAD/CAM apparatus could be used depending upon economics and other
  • Such apparatus includes the necessary computer software for converting a two-dimensional drawing into machine readable input data, means to store such data such as machine readable data carriers (floppy discs for
  • CAM apparatus could be adapted to convert a three dimensional representation of the required production tool, and the present invention
  • the machine interprets the drawing information, in a known fashion, to control modelling apparatus which
  • a production tool is then cast from this model, as indicated at 10 in the form of a dish, using a silico- aluminate inorganic resin, having a silicon : aluminium atomic ratio of 1.
  • a silico- aluminate inorganic resin having a silicon : aluminium atomic ratio of 1.
  • composition containing sodium hydroxide and fluoro-sodium poly(sialate-disilixo) works well, cures quickly and is dimensionally very stable even at 600°C.
  • the tool is cured at room temperature (25 to 50oC), and then becomes
  • the materials from which articles can be mass produced using tools obtained by the present invention include, plastics, glass, metals of various kinds and in particular aluminium and alloys thereof; ceramics, or even articles of concrete.
  • the material is required to take the form of the tool, such as injection moulding, vacuum forming, aluminium casting, aluminium super plastic forming, cold casting, squeeze casting, or press forming, as appropriate to the article being mass produced from the tool.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Mounting, Exchange, And Manufacturing Of Dies (AREA)

Abstract

A method of making a tool which is useful in the manufacture of articles, using computer aided modelling (CAM) apparatus and wherein a two-dimensional, or three-dimensional representation of the desired tool is converted by said apparatus into machine readable input data, said data is read into a memory of said apparatus, and subsequently interpreted by modelling apparatus which is a part of said CAM apparatus to form a model for the tool from a suitable material, characterised in that the said model for the tool is formed as a mould and the required tool is cast directly from said mould using a solid-forming, curable composition which exhibits substantial dimensional stability at temperatures up to 500 °C.

Description

CAD/CAM PRODUCTION TOOL FABRICATION
This invention relates to methods of producing components, such as tools for mass production of articles, from materials by processes such as moulding, vacuum forming, casting, press forming and the like. It has principal application in CAD/CAM engineering i.e. computer aided design and computer aided modelling.
Production tools are used for volume product m ifacture, i.e. mass production, for example press forming. It is well known to machine the tool, using relatively laborious and expensive processes, frequently from models generated by commercially available "CAD/CAM" systems. For example one such known "CAD/CAM" system is the MASTERCAM system sold by Unimatic. In the course of making a tool, information contained in an initial drawing is
interpreted by the CAD/CAM system, specifically to produce a model (from associated hardware) in a relatively soft material such as wood or plastics. Because production tools should have specific physical properties, such as desirable values of hardness and/or temperature resistance, they are usually made from a quite different material than the soft material of the model. It is the process of transferring the features of the model to the tool, which is generally the most laborious and expensive part of the tool production process.
We have now surprisingly found that models obtainable by the aforementioned commercially available CAD/CAM systems, when fabricated as moulds from suitable materials, can serve as a direct mould to form the desired production tool, from a large range of materials. The main advantage is that previous machining steps employed in the fabrication of mass production tools, can be eliminated with consequent reduction in labour and material costs.
According to this invention there is provided a method of making a tool which is useful in the manufacture of articles, using computer aided modelling (CAM) apparatus and wherein a two-dimensional, or three-dimensional
representation of the desired tool is converted by said apparatus into machine readable input data, said data is read into a memory of said apparatus, and subsequently interpreted by modelling apparatus which is a part of said CAM apparatus to form a model for the tool from a suitable material, characterised in that the said model for.the tool is formed as a mould and the required tool is cast directly from said mould using a solid-forming, curable composition which exhibits substantial dimensional stability at
temperatures up to 500°C. Preferred, optional features of the invention can be found in the sub claims.
The present invention also provides in preferred embodiments, methods of producing a component tool of the kind described, from a preliminary model, comprising casting the tool directly from the model using said model as a mould for the tool, preferably from an inorganic resin of the silico-aluminate type.
Preferably, the resin has a silicon : aluminium atomic ratio of 1.
Such a material can be cured at room temperature (25 to 50°C) and once cured, can be used in a wide variety of processes (such as injection moulding, vacuum forming, casting of various types, or press forming) at temperatures of up to 500°C or even up to 600°C and is dimensionally very stable.
In order that the invention may be illustrated, more easily understood and readily carried into effect by the notional skilled worker, an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic flow diagram, purely by way of non-limiting example.
As shown in the accompanying figure, the component drawing 2 of a dish-like production tool in aluminium is translated into machine readable input data form at 4, to be applied to a CAD/CAM machine 6. The CAD/CAM machine used was the commerciallv available MASTERCAM apparatus, supplied by a company called Unimatic. Other known CAD/CAM apparatus could be used depending upon economics and other
requirements. Such apparatus includes the necessary computer software for converting a two-dimensional drawing into machine readable input data, means to store such data such as machine readable data carriers (floppy discs for
example), and means to interpret the data to drive modelling hardware. It is possible that CAM apparatus could be adapted to convert a three dimensional representation of the required production tool, and the present invention
includes such within its scope.
The machine interprets the drawing information, in a known fashion, to control modelling apparatus which
produces a solid component model 8 in the form of a mould, from which the required production tool can be directly cast.
A production tool is then cast from this model, as indicated at 10 in the form of a dish, using a silico- aluminate inorganic resin, having a silicon : aluminium atomic ratio of 1. We have found that an alkaline
composition containing sodium hydroxide and fluoro-sodium poly(sialate-disilixo) works well, cures quickly and is dimensionally very stable even at 600°C. The tool is cured at room temperature (25 to 50ºC), and then becomes
sufficiently hard and temperature resistant, to be used as the actual production tool in a large range of manufacturing processes, using a wide variety of materials to manufacture the desired article from this moulded tool. As indicated in the drawing, the materials from which articles can be mass produced using tools obtained by the present invention include, plastics, glass, metals of various kinds and in particular aluminium and alloys thereof; ceramics, or even articles of concrete.
Since the tool cast from such material using the mould is dimensionally stable at temperatures of up to
600°C, it can be used in place of the conventional tool for a wide variety of manufacturing processes in which the
material is required to take the form of the tool, such as injection moulding, vacuum forming, aluminium casting, aluminium super plastic forming, cold casting, squeeze casting, or press forming, as appropriate to the article being mass produced from the tool.

Claims

1. A method of making a tool which is useful in the manufacture of articles, using computer aided modelling (CAM) apparatus and wherein a two-dimensional, or three-dimensional representation of the desired tool is converted by said apparatus into machine readable input data, said data is read into a memory of said apparatus, and
subsequently interpreted by modelling apparatus which is a part of said CAM apparatus to form a model for the tool from a suitable material, characterised in that the said model for the tool is formed as a mould and the required tool is cast directly from said mould using a solid-forming, curable composition which exhibits substantial dimensional stability at temperatures up to 500ºC.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the curable composition comprises inorganic resin, capable of
hardening in the region of ambient temperature.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the curable composition comprises a silico-aluminate composition.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the silico- aluminate further comprises fluorine and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, as part of its molecular structure.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the metal comprises one or more of the following: calcium, potassium and sodium.
6. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the curable composition is alkaline, and comprises a strong base such as potassium and/or sodium hydroxide.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the curable composition includes a substantial proportion of silico-aluminate inorganic resin which is defined by the following formula (1):
F, Mn (-Si-O-Al-O-Si-O-Si-O-)n (1) wherein:
F represents fluorine
M represents an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal,
Si represents silicon,
Al represents aluminium,
O represents oxygen, and
n is an integer
8. A method as claimsd in claim 7 wherein the Si:Al atomic ratio is 1:1 to 1:3.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the curable composition comprises alkaline fluoro-sodium poly(sialate-disiloxo) and/or fluoro-potassium poly(sialate-disiloxo) and/or fluoro-calcium poly(sialate disiloxo).
10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim
utilising computer aided modelling apparatus which is known per se.
11. A tool cast from a mould when produced by a method as claimed in any preceding claim.
12. A mass production process which involves use of a tool as claimed in claim 11.
13. A process as claimed in claim 12 which is a process from one of the following mass production processes:
injection moulding, vacuum forming, aluminium or aluminium alloy casting, aluminium or aluminium alloy forming, casting or press-forming.
14. A process as claimed in claim 13 utilising a material from one of the following materials to produce articles made of such material; plastics, glass, metal, ceramic or
concrete.
PCT/GB1993/000488 1992-03-09 1993-03-09 Cad/cam production tool fabrication Ceased WO1993019129A2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP93905544A EP0630393A1 (en) 1992-03-09 1993-03-09 Cad/cam production tool fabrication
DE0630393T DE630393T1 (en) 1992-03-09 1993-03-09 METHOD FOR PRODUCING TOOLS WITH CAD / CAM.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9205046.7 1992-03-09
GB929205046A GB9205046D0 (en) 1992-03-09 1992-03-09 Automated component production

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993019129A2 true WO1993019129A2 (en) 1993-09-30
WO1993019129A3 WO1993019129A3 (en) 1993-12-23

Family

ID=10711730

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1993/000488 Ceased WO1993019129A2 (en) 1992-03-09 1993-03-09 Cad/cam production tool fabrication

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0630393A1 (en)
DE (1) DE630393T1 (en)
GB (1) GB9205046D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1993019129A2 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0737931A3 (en) * 1995-04-11 1997-09-17 Canon Kk Method and apparatus for deciding trace of tool to be moved
WO1997046927A1 (en) * 1996-06-07 1997-12-11 Societa' Emiliana Parchi Attrazioni Ravenna S.E.P.A.R. S.R.L. Device for controlling anthropomorphic robots
EP0854406A1 (en) * 1997-01-21 1998-07-22 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Method of predicting volume of finished combustion chambers from a raw cylinder head casting
US6992027B1 (en) 2000-11-13 2006-01-31 Hexcel Composites Ltd Composite panel with fire resistant face sheets

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4665492A (en) * 1984-07-02 1987-05-12 Masters William E Computer automated manufacturing process and system
JPH02241627A (en) * 1989-03-14 1990-09-26 Komatsu Ltd mold production system
JPH0651361B2 (en) * 1990-06-29 1994-07-06 株式会社寺田 Automatic resin mold manufacturing method

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0737931A3 (en) * 1995-04-11 1997-09-17 Canon Kk Method and apparatus for deciding trace of tool to be moved
US5768136A (en) * 1995-04-11 1998-06-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Method and apparatus for deciding trace of tool to be moved
WO1997046927A1 (en) * 1996-06-07 1997-12-11 Societa' Emiliana Parchi Attrazioni Ravenna S.E.P.A.R. S.R.L. Device for controlling anthropomorphic robots
EP0854406A1 (en) * 1997-01-21 1998-07-22 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Method of predicting volume of finished combustion chambers from a raw cylinder head casting
US6992027B1 (en) 2000-11-13 2006-01-31 Hexcel Composites Ltd Composite panel with fire resistant face sheets

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9205046D0 (en) 1992-04-22
EP0630393A1 (en) 1994-12-28
WO1993019129A3 (en) 1993-12-23
DE630393T1 (en) 1995-08-03

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