Page 46 - MetalForming May 2013

Tooling Technology
areas by incorporating design opti- mization to improve performance and quality—removing wrinkles and cracks.”
The OP module uses the same com- mon interface as the other four Dynaform modules: Blank Size Engi- neering, Die Face Engineering, Forma- bility Simulation and Die System Analy- sis. These four existing modules have been enhanced in Version 5.9.
“Drawbeads are designed to restrict the blank from wrinkling and splitting in a forming process,” Tang explains. “Traditionally, adjusting drawbeads required the layout of a large and com- plicated drawbead setup, which can be very challenging and time con- suming. Achieving a formable panel or part through this traditional draw- bead-optimization process can take weeks. Now, by accurately optimizing drawbead forces using the module, along with modern computing power, the process takes only days or hours. And it doesn’t require supercomputers
or cloud computing.”
Bob Ryan, CEO of Red Cedar Tech-
nology, agrees.
“Until now,” he says, “optimizing
die systems was too difficult and time- consuming to be practical for most applications.”
Given advancements in die design afforded by evolving software, the industry has powerful tools at its dis- posal. The key, Tang says, is to make use of it.
“The tooling industry must pursue new advanced methodologies to com- pete in the worldwide market.”
Accuracy Triggers Lead-Time Reduction
“Nothing reduces lead times more than an accurate die design that requires little or no development or debugging,” says Ray Proeber, presi- dent of Accurate Die Design Inc. (www.accuratediedesign.com), New Berlin, WI. The firm is a user and reseller of SolidWorks-based Logo-
press3 3D die-design software from Logopress Corp.
“Companies are starting to capital- ize on the realization that the design is a small fraction of the total cost of building a die,” says Proeber, “and that the larger build phase of the die, includ- ing tryout and debugging, is where the real money is made.”
By simplifying the design process while providing accurate information essential for proper formation of tool- ing, software can make life easier and more profitable for its users. Visualiza- tion is one way software has improved the design process.
“While we have had animation and dynamic interference detection for years,” Proeber says, referring specifi- cally to Logopress3, “we now have enhanced this with the ability to ani- mate cams, pressure pads, lifters and other die components. This tool by itself goes a long way in minimizing mistakes.”
Ease of communication also can
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