Machina Labs Inc Roller tool for part forming Patent (US20250135653A1): The patent discloses a roller tool for use with a robotic arm in dieless shee…
US20250135653A1 · Machina Labs Inc
- Patent number
- US20250135653A1
- Applicant
- Machina Labs Inc
- Filing date
- 2024-10-30
- CPC class
- B25J 11/005
- Pillar
- Muscle
The patent discloses a roller tool for use with a robotic arm in dieless sheet metal forming. The tool features a ball housed in a deformable socket that increases contact area under pressure, along with fluid channels for cooling/lubrication and other adaptive features like beveled edges and magnets. It enables precise incremental forming of sheet metal parts using robotic manipulation without traditional dies.
Claims
Independent claims cover a system comprising a roller tool (ball in socket support with pressure-responsive deformation and/or fluid channel) attached to a robot arm that presses and moves the tool across a part surface to form a desired geometry from an initial sheet metal shape. Additional claims detail specific embodiments including self-adjusting sockets, cooling, and integration with sensors or multiple tools.
Technical analysis
The invention improves robotic incremental sheet forming by addressing contact pressure distribution and thermal management. The deformable socket adapts to load for better force application and reduced wear, while fluid channels enable active cooling. This enhances precision, speed, and tool longevity in robotic manufacturing cells compared to rigid stylus or fixed roller tools.
Commercial impact
Enables agile, low-tooling-cost production of custom sheet metal parts for aerospace, automotive, and prototyping. Reduces lead times and capital expenditure versus stamping dies, supporting on-demand manufacturing and rapid iteration. Machina Labs' RoboCraftsman platform leverages this for commercial metal forming services.
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