http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_TechCell.cfm The Tool and Die tech cell is packed with specific links to help you find product information, suppliers, technical articles, case studies, seminars and conferences, as well as books, software, and videos on metal fabricating-related topics. en-us http://www.thefabricator.com/RSS/images/thefabricator_rss.gif http://www.thefabricator.com Copyright 2007 FMA Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. official publication date Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:17:01 AM CDT Vicki Bell Laurie Harshbarger http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1698 Part II of this series presented a basic overview of metal forming operations, such as bending, flanging, drawing, ironing, coining, curling, hemming, and embossing. This and future installments discuss these operations in more detail. We will look at factors controlling the success of each operation, as well as tooling design guidelines. Let's begin with metal bending, a process often perceived as the simplest. Bending Bending can be defined simply as a forming operation in whi... Art Hedrick, Contributing Writer Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1696 High-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels are revolutionizing the automotive and construction industries, and stainless steel is tremendously popular in appliances. These steels are stronger, tougher, and often more advanced than traditional materials. To be successful, manufacturers must be equally advanced in their stamping techniques. New materials require new ways of thinking about extending punch life. At the same time, many tried-and-true techniques still work. Below are six o... Jerry Dwyer Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1693 Editor's Note: This article is Part II of a two-part series that discusses how to cut tooling costs without sacrificing die quality. Part I defined cost versus quality and fit and function. You might laugh to think of a die completely made from cold-rolled steel, yet, dies made from cold-rolled steel, solid carbide, or cast iron can function properly with minimal maintenance. The key is to know when to use a lower-grade steel and when to use a higher-grade tool steel. Selecting th... Art Hedrick Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1668 Editor's Note: This is Part I of a two-part series that discusses how to cut tooling costs without sacrificing die quality. Part II, which will appear in the August issue, will examine tool steels and using special die engineering software to save money. To be competitive, metal stampers need a tool that will function properly, produce a satisfactory part, and can be efficiently maintained. Stampers also must purchase this tool at a competitive price. In my time as ... Art Hedrick Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1654 Although fineblanking and GRIPflow® often are categorized as metal cutting operations, they more closely resemble a cold metal extrusion process that creates what appears to be a blanked part. The processes can be defined simply as methods in which a part is squeezed from the strip. Figure 1 Results of Conventional Cutting Unlike parts made with conventional metal cutting methods, the parts made using fineblanking and GRIPflow have little or no fracture zone (Figure... Art Hedrick, Contributing Writer Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1644 Figure 1 Unfolding a part allows for a large portion of the part to be direct- trimmed. Editor's Note: Part III is the final installment in a multiple-part series that discusses developing complex drawing and stretching dies to produce nonuniform, contoured parts. Part I, which appeared in the April issue, covered the influence of metal type and part tolerances on die design. Part II, which appeared in the May issue, covered conducting a length-of-line analysis and the p... Art Hedrick Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1616 Figure 1 Refurbished die carts are in the standby position by the press, ready for the automatic changeover sequence. Staying competitive in today's manufacturing environment is a challenge that all stampers are trying to manage. Running lean is a way of life, and most successful companies are embracing this concept and eliminating waste associated with handling dies. Every minute a press is not making parts, it's costing you money. Increasing press uptime should be ... Ron Demonet Tue, 08 May 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1612 Editor's Note: This is Part II of a multiple-part series that discusses developing complex drawing and stretching dies to produce nonuniform, contoured parts. Part I, which appeared in the April issue, covered the influence of metal type and part tolerances on die design. Last month's column discussed designing dies for contoured parts from critical data, provided by finite element analysis. It also walked you though the initial steps you need to take to develop such ... Art Hedrick Tue, 08 May 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1600 Die sections with a narrow slot, such as the one shown on the right, can be coated with Phygen’s low-temperature PVD process without fear of warping the tool. According to Ron Saling, tooling supervisor, Glacier Vandervell Bearings, attempts to coat this part with a high-temperature, thermal diffusion coating resulted in having to scrap as many as half of the sections because of warping. What does the word automobile mean to you? If you are a typical consumer, it likely means... David Bell, Contributing Writer Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/ToolandDie/ToolandDie_Article.cfm?ID=1595 Editor's Note: This is Part I of a multiple-part series that discusses developing complex drawing and stretching dies to produce nonuniform contoured parts. Part II, which will appear in the May issue, will examine tolerances and how they affect the processing of formed parts. Determining the best die geometry to produce multicontoured formed parts can be difficult. Developing die geometry for a formed part with simple axial symmetry is easy compared with die geometry for a nonuniform con... Art Hedrick Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT