Page 33 - MetalForming May 2014

Dynaform die-system simula- tion suite.
“To achieve profitability, these businesses must produce a good product on a timely basis while achieving cost sav- ings,” Hayden says, “and simu- lation analysis tools go a long way toward enabling compa- nies to make decisions that result in quality, cost-effective products.”
Hayden offers the example
of a customer that through-
out the recent recovery has improved profitability two to
three times due to controlling and understanding fixed assets and direct labor, because it can predict tool per- formance and perform precise scheduling.
“Productivity and efficiency leads to profitability,” he says, “and this tech- nology allows users to better deter- mine per-piece price so that they have confidence in their costs beforehand.”
Gaining confidence in the analysis and accuracy of simulation tools enables expansion into new markets and projects.
“Companies can bid on more com- plex parts and grow their comfort zone, perhaps expanding from automotive to appliance or aerospace,” Hayden explains. “Capabilities in simulation systems can help open doors to new
processes that enable entry into new types of businesses.
“Tool-and-die is constantly evolv- ing,” continues Hayden, “so players in this arena must be conscious of the new high-strength steels and other new alloys, and need a tool such as simulation to deal with what’s new. Standing pat will put you behind the eight ball.”
Springback in the new materials Hayden references offers an area where simulation pays big dividends, allowing users to predict how materials will react to force. This leads to improved tool performance and higher-quality parts from the start.
Not only does new simulation tech- nology enable new-market and new- process entry, it continues to quicken development time upfront. Optimiza- tion is a case in point. “Proper draw- bead placement for medium or large stampings had not long ago been a week-long testing project,” says Hay- den. “Now, it can be done in one day.”
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