Inventors:
William R. Walker - Rochester MI
George W. Lukowski - Bloomfield Hills MI
Assignee:
Hydro-Craft, Inc. - Rochester Hills MI
International Classification:
B21D 2806
Abstract:
A progressive die apparatus and method for cold forming weld adapters. A progressive die apparatus, preferably having at least four working stations and several idle stations, is used to form, weld adapters from rectangular bar stock having a thickness of at least about 3/8 inch. Plain-carbon steel bar stock material or other weldable metal material is successively fed through the progressive die apparatus, which is preferably installed in a knuckle-joint power press. The cold forming method includes the following steps: (a) at a first working station piercing the first hole; (b) at a second working station coining the stock material in the area surrounding the first hole to define a collar-like configuration including a hollow region for receiving the fastener; (c) at a third working station repiercing said stock material to remove material that was displaced in the first hole during the coining step; (d) successively advancing stock material from the first to the last working stations; and (e) at a fourth working station cutting the stock material after steps (a) through (c).