A novel process for transforming sheet metal blanks: ridged die forming

Year: 
2013
Authors: 
M. A. Carruth, J. M. Allwood
Highlights: 

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Abstract: 

Up to 20% of all sheet metal produced is scrapped as blanking skeletons. A novel process is therefore designed and examined, aiming to transform tessellating ‘pre-blanks’ in-plane into the real blanks required for stamping. Prior to blanking, the sheet is formed with a set of ridged dies, from which pre-blanks are cut and then flattened into true blanks. Several different approaches to designing ridged dies are evaluated by simulation and experiment, and the best results demonstrate a potential reduction in blanking yield losses for can-making from 9.3% to 6.9%.