Experimental and Finite Element Results for Optimization of Punch Force and Thickness Distribution in Deep Drawing Process

Abstract

Carrying out various experiments organized based on the design of experiments method, the deep drawing process is investigated entirely in this paper. The influences of eight main process parameters including punch and die radii, blank thickness, punch velocity, lubrication conditions at the interfaces of blank-die, blank-punch, and blank–blank holder as well as the blank holder force on the process outputs comprising punch force and sheet thickness variation are investigated. The analysis of variance method is considered to define the procedure by which these eight parameters be adjusted for deep drawing process to minimize the punch force and maximize the uniform thickness distribution in the products. It was found that for punch force, in addition to blank thickness, die and punch radii as well as the BHF are, respectively, the main essential parameters. Besides, blank thickness, die radius, and lubrication condition at the holder-blank interface are the most effective parameters on thickness distribution. Accordingly, initial blank thickness and die shoulder radius could be taken into account as two important parameters in deep drawing process should be set up appropriately to accomplish the minimum punch force and uniform thickness distribution together.