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More from Art Hedrick
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: The big-bang theory: The causes of die crashes
- By Art Hedrick
- Aug 7, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
I recently had the opportunity to conduct stamping die-related training out West. During our session, we began to discuss the reasons that die mishaps, crashes, and progressive-die “train wrecks” occur. One attendee told me that his company runs high-speed progressive dies at nearly 1,000...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Using urethane in dies
- By Art Hedrick
- Aug 4, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
It’s a well-known fact that stampers are trying to reduce their tooling costs and shorten die-building and tryout lead-times. At the same time, stamped products are being designed to of advanced high-strength steel and often contain geometric features that are difficult to form. This presents an...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Tool and die training
- By Art Hedrick
- Aug 1, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
I’m truly amazed how many die shops and stampers do not have any type of formal tool and die training program. In addition, a lot of shops have eliminated apprenticeships programs over the last few years. It seems as though training is the first thing to go when times get tough. We often opt to...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Driving change in metal forming methods
- By Art Hedrick
- Aug 1, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
If you have purchased fuel for your car or truck lately, you have incurred some “sticker shock”. The rising cost of fuel is playing nasty games with our economy. It affects the cost of everything, including steel. In addition to seeking alternative fuel sources, the U.S. is making a great...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Stamping stainless steel (part II)
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 31, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Expect More Springback Springback, also known as elastic recovery, is the result of the metal wanting to return to its original shape. Because stainless steel has inherently higher strengths and work- or strain-hardens more than plain low-carbon steel, you must overbend or overform the metal...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Handling production splitting problems, Part I
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 27, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
I’ve heard it a thousand times: “This #%-*#*!*!* splits are killing us! Why can’t you die guys make the tooling more robust? The material is within spec. I checked it myself! Yesterday the die was running great, and now it’s only making scrap.” Sheet metal, dies, presses, and lubricants...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Stainless steel stamping
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 27, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Stainless steel has a reputation of being tight to form and cut. This can be true, but stainless steel stamping depends on what type of stainless you are using.
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: The science
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 26, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
I am not going to sugar-coat this article. Some of you may disagree with its content and find that very little of what I am about to share is true in your community. If so, my response to you is a sincere congratulations! I hope your community is the catalyst for change. I am on your side, and you...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Reducing die cost
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 24, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
“How much?” “You have got to be kidding, right?” “What is this die made of? Gold?” It’s almost comical to watch the person responsible for getting quotes receive them. Facial expressions resemble those from a Three Stooges movie. Emotions from total joy to total disbelief are not...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Selecting radii for forming operations (part II)
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 19, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
The profile radius is the radius that creates the outside profile of a drawn shell (see Figure 1 ). Its size greatly affects the amount of metal flow that takes place during the drawing process. Large profile radii allow more metal to flow inward than small radii. To understand the reason for...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Splitting in a stretch flange?
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 18, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Splitting in the proximity of a stretch flange is one of the most common forming failures that occur in sheet metal stamping. What is Stretch Flange? Also known as a tension flange , a stretch flange is a part feature in which the metal is bent along a concave or convex axis. This curvature...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Understanding, designing, and fitting draw pads
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 14, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
The draw pad, otherwise known as the binder, blank holder, or pressure pad, is on of the most important elements of a drawing operation. Its shape, thickness, and surface quality are critical features. Dismissing a single design factor can prove disastrous. Draw Pad Fundamentals A draw pad is...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Splitting or cracking?
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 13, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
I conduct and attend many technical conferences about die design techniques and metal forming methods. During these conferences, the topic of metal failure almost always comes up. Terms such as splitting , cracking , ripping , tearing , necking , laminations , and elongations often...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Drawing under pressure
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 11, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
On my list of pet peeves are die shops and stampers that use only draw pad pressure—also known as blank holder pressure —to control metal flow. If the part wrinkles, they increase the draw pad pressure; if the part splits, they reduce the draw pad pressure. They find themselves changing the...
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: 6 questions to answer to achieve successful deep drawing (Part II)
- By Art Hedrick
- Jul 6, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
4. What is the Limiting Draw Ratio? The limiting draw ratio (LDR) is the relationship between the edge of the draw punch and the edge of the blank, or the ratio of the maximum blank diameter that can safely be drawn into a cup. To understand this concept better, consider how an axial...
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/16/2024
- Running Time:
- 63:29
In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s...
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