Lukas Kwiatkowski

Improved Tool Surfaces for Incremental Bulk Forming Processes of Sheet Metals

Sheet-bulk metal forming is a process used to manufacture load-adapted parts with high precision. However, bulk forming of sheet metals requires high forces, and thus tools applied for the operational demand have to withstand very high contact pressures, which lead to high wear and abrasion. The usage of conventional techniques like hardening and coating in order to reinforce the surface resistance are not sufficient enough in this case. In this paper, the tool resistance is improved by applying filigree bionic structures, especially structures adapted from the Scarabaeus beetle to the tool’s surface. The structures are realized by micromilling. Despite the high hardness of the tool material, very precise patterns are machined successfully using commercially available ball-end milling cutters. The nature-adapted surface patterns are combined with techniques like plasma nitriding and PVD coating, leading to a multilayer coating system. The effect of process parameters on the resistance of the tools is analyzed experimentally and compared to a conventional, unstructured, uncoated, only plasma nitrided forming tool. Therefore, the tools are used for an incremental bulk forming process on 2 mm thick metal sheets made of aluminum. The results show that the developed methodology is feasible to reduce the process forces and to improve the durability of the tools.

Tooling concepts to speed up incremental sheet forming

A major drawback of asymmetric incremental sheet forming (AISF) is the long cycle time. AISF is known in general as forming of a sheet metal by only one small forming zone. The developed concepts presented in this paper aim at decreasing the main process time by applying several forming zones on the part through multiple tools working in parallel. By the use of a systematic design process, four major structural tooling concepts were invented. Those variants were compared to each other by a cost-utility analysis. As a result, a prototype with two tools was produced to fasten the AISF process.

Novel Five-Axis Forming Press for the Incremental Sheet-Bulk Metal Forming

The incremental procedure of sheet-bulk metal forming was classified into two different forming sequences, the discrete and the continuous. Based on these two groups, a movement matrix was developed, which captures required kinematic motions to manufacture a variety of functional components. With the objective of producing near-net-shape workpiece geometries within the Collaborative Research Centre TR73 – sheet-bulk metal forming, the required positioning accuracies of conventional metal forming machines exceed the current state of the art. Therefore, a suitable machine concept was developed and realized. This new machine represents a unique prototype for a flexible application of bulk forming operations to 2 – 3 mm sheets with five motion axes. During continuous forming, such as rolling, and also during simultaneous operations, increased lateral forces prevail. The machine was provided with a high stiffness. That enables a positioning accuracy which, also under load and at rest, correlates the high demands of the sheet-bulk metal forming within a range of ±0.01 mm.

Innovative Tools to Improve Incremental Bulk Forming Processes

Sheet-bulk metal forming is an innovative process with a high potential to generate load-adapted parts with high precision. Bulk forming processes of sheet metals especially require high process forces, resulting in an intense contact pressure and, thus, in a very high abrasive and adhesive wear. As a method to reduce or avoid these common wear phenomena, even hardened or coated tool surfaces are not sufficient. The objective of this paper is to show an improvement of the tool resistance during an incremental forming process by an adapted tool design and the application of structured tool surfaces combined with coatings. For the tool surface the structure of the scarabaeus beetle serves as the basis for a bionic structure. This structure was manufactured by micromilling. Despite the high hardness of the tool material and the complex geometry of the forming tools, very precise patterns were machined successfully using ball-end milling cutters. The combination of bionic structures with coating techniques like physical vapor deposition (PVD) on plasma nitrided tool surfaces is very promising. In this work, the influence of process parameters (workpiece material, lubrication, tool design, stepwise infeed) on the tool resistance during the forming operation was analyzed experimentally. The results of the optimized forming tools were compared to conventional, unstructured, uncoated, and only plasma nitrided forming tools. The different tools were applied to 2 mm thick metal sheets made of aluminum (AlMg3) and steel (non-alloy quality steel DC04). As a result, the process forces could be reduced by a modified shape and surface of the tools. Thus, the lifetime of the tools can be enhanced.

Machines and Tools for Sheet-Bulk Metal Forming

The demand on closely-tolerated and complex functional components in the automotive sector, like e.g. synchronizer rings, leads to the development of a new process-class named “sheet-bulk metal forming”. Within this technology bulk metal forming operations are applied on sheet metals. In the following two novel approaches considering machines and tools for sheet-bulk metal forming are presented. The first approach aims on a technology based on rolling, which is suitable for mass production. The second one is an incremental forming solution for low batch production. Both machine concepts allow the application of different forming strategies to manufacture individual tailored semi-finished products in term of a pre-distribution of material. These products feature variable sheet thicknesses and mechanical properties, which can be adapted to their case of applica-tion. Depending on the individual batch size, the blanks can be finished to functional parts by sub-sequent forming processes like deep drawing and upsetting, extrusion or incremental forming. In this paper the case of an incremental tooth-forming is mainly considered. Forming sequences and resulting loads are modeled and calculated by finite elements simulations for all discussed processes to serve as a basis for the design and dimensioning of the machine components and forming tools.

Combined simulation of quasi-static deep drawing and electromagnetic forming by means of a coupled damage–viscoplasticity model at finite strains

The combination of quasi-static and electromagnetic pulse forming increases the formability of sheet metal forming processes. A cooperation between the institute of Applied Mechanics (IFAM) of the RWTH Aachen and the Institute of Forming Technology and Lightweight Construction (IUL) of the TU Dortmund is investigating these processes both experimentally and by simulation for the deep-drawing process of a cross-shaped cup. Aim of the work is to show and prove that with this forming strategy we obtain a more sharpened radius of the cup edges.The combined deformation process is simulated by means of finite elements using a material model developed in [1,2]. A recently proposed finite strain anisotropic viscoplastic model, taking combined nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening into account, is coupled with ductile damage in the context of continuum damage mechanics. For the simulation, the evolution equations for the internal variables of the constitutive model are numerically integrated in an explicit manner and the model is then implemented as a user material subroutine in the commercial finite element package LS-Dyna.

Analytic Prediction of the Process Parameters for Form-Fit Joining by Die-Less Hydroforming

The Commission of the European Communities aims for a reduction of new car CO2 emissions of 120 grams per kilometer in 2012. As a result of the omnipresent efforts of the automotive industry to hit these tighter emission standards innovative lightweight strategies, e.g. the use of lightweight materials are developed. This entails new joining techniques that are appropriated to the new lightweight materials. The die-less hydroforming process is a joining method for tubular joints which meets the new demands of lightweight strategies. Since there is no need for any additional connection elements or filling material, it is an interesting alternative to conventional welding and riveting processes. The present paper describes the basic principle of the die-less hydroforming joining technology with a special focus on form-fit connections. An analytical model, based on the membrane theory with an additional local consideration of bending stresses is developed. This analytic approach can be used to calculate the working fluid pressure, required to bulge the tube material into the groove of the outer joining partner. Taking into account the material parameters as well as the groove and tube geometry, this model allows a reliable process design. Additionally, validation of the model by experimental investigations will be provided.

Groove Filling Characteristics and Strength of Form-Fit Joints Produced by Die-Less Hydroforming

The manufacturing of modern lightweight structures and the implementation of multi material concepts, for example in automotive engineering, entails appropriate joining technologies. The absence of additional connection elements or filling materials as well as the possibility to join dissimilar metals are basic requirements in this field of application to reach the aspired weight reduction. In case of tubular joints the die-less hydroforming process meets these demands and thus makes it an interesting alternative to conventional welding and riveting processes. The present work focuses on form fit joints produced by die-less hydroforming. It provides a verification of a previously presented analytical approach that allows the calculation of the working fluid pressure required to bulge the tube material into the groove of the outer joining partner. For that purpose, the groove filling characteristics of joined specimens with different groove geometries are analyzed. Here both joining partners were made of the aluminum alloy EN AW-6060. Additionally the connection strength of the joined specimens are determined using tensile tests. The results prove that the groove angle is the main influencing factor on the connection strength and that it can be used for an ordinal comparison of different groove geometries.

Simulation of Electromagnetic Forming of a Cross-Shaped Cup by Means of a Viscoplasticity Model Coupled with Damage at Finite Strains

In the field of sheet metal forming traditional forming processes are used. However, a quasi-static forming process combined with a high speed forming process can enhance the forming limits of a single one. In this paper, the investigation of the process chain quasi-static deep drawing – electromagnetic forming by means of a new coupled damage-viscoplasticity model for large deformations is performed. The finite strain constitutive model, used in the finite element simulation combines nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening and is derived in a thermodynamically consistent setting. The anisotropic viscoplastic model is based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient in the context of hyperelasticity. The kinematic hardening component represents a continuum extension of the classical rheological model of Armstrong–Frederick kinematic hardening. Hill-type plastic anisotropy is modelled by expressing the yield surface as a function of second-order structure tensors as additional tensor-valued arguments. The coupling of damage and plasticity is carried out in a constitutive manner according to the effective stress concept. The constitutive equations of the material model are integrated in an explicit manner and implemented as a user material subroutine in the commercial finite element package of LS-Dyna with the electromagnetical modul. Aim of the work is to show the increasing formability of the sheet by combining quasi-static deep drawing processes with high speed electromagnetic forming process.

Investigation of Forming Strategies to Set up Mechanical Properties of Parts Made by Incremental Sheet Bulk Rolling

Load‐adapted parts with an increasing number of functions become more and more interesting in order to reduce the weight of all kinds of mechanical constructions. Such parts require varying mechanical properties and towards they are cost‐expensive. One approach to reduce the costs is the application of cheap semi‐finished parts. To process such parts, especially in thickness direction, bulk‐forming operations are requested. This leads to high forming forces. A feasible approach to reduce the forces is the application of incremental forming techniques. In this paper an incremental rolling process is presented. The sequential order of forming operations during incremental rolling allows an individual adjustment of mechanical and the geometrical properties. In the presented study a sheet with a thickness of 2 mm made of mild steel is formed using a roller ball with a diameter of 13 mm. Main objective of the investigation is to manufacture parts with equal values for thickness but different values of the loca...