BorgWarner Inc., a drive-train developer and manufacturer of four-wheel-drive and traction control parts for the automotive industry, was having a problem with punches used to deform the ends of shafts (axles) in the reduction carrier and differential carrier.

To the naked eye, conveyor design doesn't look looks it has progressed much in 40 years. The conveyors of today are engineered with unique design elements and innovations that make them more versatile than ever for today's metal stamping applications. A conveyor with the latest technologies is good only if it is running properly. Simple preventive maintenance techniques can save stampers time, money, and a lot of headaches.

Slivers are the result of the aluminum interfacing with the cutting sections or punches. To reduce the production of slivers the severity of friction at the point where the two surfaces interface must be reduced. The general rule for cutting materials is the softer the metal the smaller the cutting clearance.

After World War II, equipment manufacturing companies in Asia and Europe designed production systems that were more flexible in nature than systems in the U.S., which were designed for high-volume production. Today this trend is hitting U.S. shores, and U.S. stampers are looking overseas for inspiration in finding ways to work more efficiently.

Editor's Note: This article is part of a three-part series. Part I categorizes defect types and discusses the factors that affect formed part quality; Part II covers various destructive and nondestructive tests for evaluating incoming material; and Part III is an introduction to process monitoring systems.