Sheet-Bulk Metal Forming of Preformed Sheet Metal Parts

Abstract

Due to ecological and economic challenges there is a rising demand on closely-tolerated complex functional components. Regarding short process chains and improved mechanical properties conventional forming processes are often limited. A promising approach to meet these requirements can be seen in the combination of traditional sheet and bulk metal forming processes, to form sheet metals out of the sheet plane with typical bulk forming operations. The challenge of applying conventional bulk forming operations on sheet metal is the interaction between regions of high and low deformation, which is largely unknown in literature. To analyze this topic fundamentally, a process combination of deep drawing and upsetting is developed for manufacturing tooth-like elements at pre-drawn cups. To fully understand material flow out of the sheet plane into the tooth cavity and to identify and qualify process factors depending on the functional elements´ geometry and friction, a single upsetting stage forming a simplified model of the blank is virtually analyzed with finite-element simulation. By inhibiting the forming history of the pre-drawn blank, the upsetting process can be investigated without interactions with a previous deep drawing operation.