Page 43 - MetalForming May 2013

Pro-E,UG,STEP,Solid Works, Solid Edge, ACIS, DXF, DWG, STL and VDA files. Very large files can be handled with ease, according to company officials, and companies working with complex designs benefit from simplified manipulation of cus- tomer CAD data.
The Dynaform 5.9 die-system simulation suite from ETA contains a new Opti- mization Platform module designed to reduce development time and cost for manufacturing by reducing incidents of wrinkling, thinning and tearing. It does this by supporting optimization of drawbead forces along with binder pressure, lubrication, and workpiece material type and thickness.
possible to incorporate parametric features such as ribs and bosses that can be activated or deac- tivated as required at forming stage.
Placement of 3D fold- ing stages into the strip occurs seamlessly, and the strip can easily be updated to accommo- date a reduction or increase in number of stages. At any point it is possible to access all of the strip parameters,
Building on that
capability, “we can
incorporate FEA and
formability results very
quickly into the strip layout,” Bragg says.
tive with the use of the automatic 2D strip plan, including fold lines. A vari- ety of automatic and semiautomatic tools help to create shearing punches that, once created, can be dynamical- ly moved to different stages in the strip, simply by using drag-and-drop. Step- by-step unfolding allows the designer to plan each forming stage by dynam- ically adjusting bend angles. And, it’s
including width and pitch, for modi- fication when required. In addition, the 3D strip can be simulated at any point to check the design’s validity and performance.
Deeper Libraries
In recent years, component libraries have been bolstered to help designers find what they need in a hurry. This is
Flexible strip layout also simplifies the process and cuts design time. For example, starting with the developed component blank, a designer can quickly formulate a 3D strip layout, Bragg notes. Automatic blank align- ment, rotation and optimization help plan a more efficient strip. Also, punch design and layout become more effec-
Tooling Technology
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MetalForming/May 2013 41