TABLE OF CONTENTS Gages must be considered in the design of press tools because these components position the strip longitudinally in its travel through the die. In second-operation dies, gages locate the previously blanked or formed part for further processing operations. Design considerations include:
Material choice. Commercial gage stock or an equivalent finished tool steel is used for gages in first class dies. Cold-rolled steel should be used only when low production requirements exist.
Adequate thickness. The back gage and front spacer must be thick enough to avoid binding the strip between the stripper plate and the die block because of possible camber in the strip. Camber, or curvature, is more pronounced in coiled stock that has not passed through a straightener.
Good doweling practice. Because gages locate the strip or part, they should always be doweled in position.
Accuracy of location. Dimensions from the die hole to the locating surfaces of gages are always given decimally on the drawing.
Accuracy of locating surfaces. The gaging surfaces that actually bear against the strip (or part) should be ground, and so marked on the die drawing.
This section illustrates numerous methods of applying gages to various types of dies. These methods further explain Step 7 in Chapter 5 Fourteen Steps to Design a Die.
In passing through a two-station pierce and blank die, (Figure 12.1) the strip is positioned against back gage A by the operator. Strip...
