“Father of Metal Forming” dies

Stuart Keeler, Sc.D., known as the “Father of Metal Forming,” died May 14, 2019. He began his extensive sheet metal career at MIT, where he received a doctorate in mechanical metallurgy and developed the forming limit diagram, now used throughout the world to predict forming severity and tearing of sheet metal stampings.

Keeler spent 24 years at National Steel Corp., primarily as manager of automotive research in Detroit, where he created troubleshooting methods such as circle grid analysis, thinning strain analysis, and statistical deformation control. He also wrote a book for AISI, Automotive Sheet Metal Formability – Report AU89-1.

In March 1987 Keeler joined the Budd Co. Technical Center as manager of sheet metal technology. He also served as corporate trainer in the Shalnin Problem Solving Process. Keeler retired in 1999 but continued his sheet metal forming work as Keeler Technologies LLX.

Keeler has been elected a Fellow in SME and ASM and won ASM’s 1992 William Hunt Eisenman Award for his contributions to the practical application of science and materials engineering. He conducted courses, seminars, and lectures throughout the world and authored numerous articles and papers.