Page 23 - MetalForming-Jul-2018-issue

Hot-form dies resist deflection and uneven quench pressure.
maintain even contact pressure, which helps to maintain uniformity and mini- mize quench time.
Austin offers addi- tional advice for higher- volume pro- duction. “Multiple-
cavity tools
furnace and automation handling must be accounted for when using smaller blanks. In some cases, connecting blanks together helps heat and move the blanks into the press, and the connec- tion is removed during laser cutting.”
Looking Ahead
Austin predicts that R&D efforts by material and equipment companies will continue to result in improved coatings and alloys, faster heating rates, and greater use of laser-welded blanks made from hard and/or ductile mate- rials. He adds that steelmakers and automotive companies are working together to develop new applications and manufacturing processes to improve modeling predictions and vehicle performance.
In addition to automotive, aerospace and agriculture, he says that defense- vehicle applications are gaining trac- tion and that we will soon see hot- formed parts in other markets as well.
Stay tuned. MF
same die set. If the press is large, there may be other parts loaded in the same die set. Using the same coil of material within a die ensures that any variation in material gauge impacts all parts, maintaining balanced contract pres- sures. That is, unless special press or die-cushion provisions are used to
often pro- vide two pairs of parts per stroke,” he says. “For door-impact beams, for example, it is common to produce four beams per stroke. In some cases, espe- cially now that smaller reinforcements are commonly made with the direct PHS process, six or eight parts are made for each press stroke. Limitations in
“ We had seconds to connect air, fluid and power to an assembly platform. Hello ATI.”
The fully automated ATI Utility Coupler delivers what no manual solution can. Speed and reliability. Unique among all other automated solutions, ATI’s built-in engineered rotational compliance ensures reliable coupling. And our common mounting flats are compatible with ATI’s vast selection of tool changer utility modules. ATI is also compatible with DeviceNet, Ethernet and Profinet. So, if you’re ready to add a new level of speed and reliability to your manufacturing process just say, “Hello ATI.” See it now at www.ati-ia.com/utilitycoupler.
www.metalformingmagazine.com
MetalForming/July 2018 21