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More from Art Hedrick
- From The Fabricator
DIEVESTIGATION: Designing stamped parts
- By Art Hedrick
- Feb 9, 2010
- Bending and Forming
- Article
In his first installment of DIEVESTIGATION, a new column about using research and data to solve stamping problems, tool and die expert Art Hedrick discusses how the metal specified during part design affects downstream operations and costs. What should you consider when selecting the metal?
- From The Fabricator
Sheet Metal Stamping 101 Part V: Forming Sheet Metal
- By Art Hedrick
- Dec 15, 2009
- Shop Management
- Article
Forming sheet metal can include bending, flanging, coining, embossing, stretching, curling, hemming, ironing, necking, and drawing related. Learn more here.
- From The Fabricator
Sheet Metal Stamping 101
- By Art Hedrick
- Dec 15, 2009
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Editor's Note: This series presents an overview of metal stamping. Part I focuses on the various careers in the metal stamping industry. Part II discusses stamping materials and equipment. Part III focuses on dies and cutting and Part IV offers more detail about cutting processes. Part V, the final installment, investigates forming methods.
- From The Fabricator
Sheet Metal Stamping 101, Part IV
- By Art Hedrick
- Oct 27, 2009
- Shop Management
- Article
Continuing his series about sheet metal stamping, tool-and-die expert Art Hedrick explains common cutting operations used in stamping: trimming, piercing, blanking, notching, shearing, lancing, and pinch trimming. Find out how they work and which applications are appropriate for each.
- From The Fabricator
Sheet Metal Stamping 101, Part III
- By Art Hedrick
- Aug 25, 2009
- Shop Management
- Article
Continuing his series about sheet metal stamping, tool-and-die expert Art Hedrick focuses on die basics, including die materials and rudimentary maintenance. He also explains the cutting process and what happens to metal when you cut it with a stamping die.
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: 'Bad' steel — the ultimate scapegoat
- By Art Hedrick
- Aug 1, 2009
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
It seems like every time there is a problem making a good part, the steel is blamed. Often the root problem is the process used to cut and form the steel — the combination of the die, the press, and the lubricant.
- From The Fabricator
The basics of sheet metal stamping, Part II
- By Art Hedrick
- Jun 9, 2009
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Our primer about sheet metal stamping covers the basics including the materials, equipment, and view images involved in the sheet metal stamping process. Learn more.
- From The Fabricator
Sheet Metal Stamping 101, Part I
- By Art Hedrick
- Apr 14, 2009
- Shop Management
- Article
Metalworking professionals who possess diverse proficient skills have an edge in a tight job market. In this first installment in a series, tool-and-die expert Art Hedrick presents an overview of the metal stamping industry and describes the various careers available in the sector.
- From The Fabricator
Survival—Are factors other than the economy dragging down your operation?
- By Art Hedrick
- Feb 10, 2009
- Shop Management
- Article
Art Hedrick, longtime consultant to the sheet metal stamping industry, has observed three internal factors that can negatively affect an operation. In this economic climate in which so much is at stake, you want to make sure that your business does not suffer from these self-destructive characteristics.
- From The Fabricator
Revealing the Magic — Using data and conducting experiments to solve metal forming problems
- By Art Hedrick
- Dec 14, 2008
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Effective stamping professionals rely on scientific principles and not magic to determine and correct production problems. Find out how to troubleshoot wrinkles and rips and take corrective action by following a basic procedure that can be modified to troubleshoot almost any stamping issue.
- From The Fabricator
Buying time—by welding
- By Art Hedrick
- Oct 28, 2008
- Bending and Forming
- Article
You're almost at the end of a production run and your stamping die fails. What do you do? Replace the failed component? Attempt a repair? How do you decide which option is best? These questions—along with basic guidelines for repairing a die by welding—are answered in this article.
- From The Fabricator
3 deadly tool design sins
- By Art Hedrick
- Aug 12, 2008
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Among the many factors to consider when designing and building a stamping die are the material to be processed, the press that will run the die, and specified part tolerances. Inadequate knowledge of these factors can contribute to die failure and production and quality problems.
- From The Fabricator
Measuring forming severity
- By Art Hedrick
- Jun 17, 2008
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Determining a part's forming severity, something that is critical for a successful stamping operation, takes into account various data. This article discusses the different types of data and how each is obtained. It also compares circle grid analysis to square grid analysis.
- From The Fabricator
Die Science: Reading progressive die strips — Part I
- By Art Hedrick
- May 1, 2008
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Looking at the results of a process—in this case, the strip produced in the die—certainly can lead to good data indicating the root cause of a problem. Distorted, elongated pilot holes, mismatched cuts are common defects. Distorted pilot holes can be the result of a poor carrier design. An improperly set up feed release can cause misfeeds, pilot hole elongation, and bent, broken, or galled pilots, as well as poor part location and gauging.
- From The Fabricator
Getting the most from your cutting punches: Part II
- By Art Hedrick
- Apr 29, 2008
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Many factors influence tool steel selection. Part Iof this article focused on selecting the right cutting clearance. Part II discusses properties to look for in tool steel and the importance of heat treating, preparation for production, coatings, lubricants, and the press on which the tool...
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/30/2024
- Running Time:
- 53:00
Seth Feldman of Iowa-based Wertzbaugher Services joins The Fabricator Podcast to offer his take as a Gen Zer...
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- May 16, 2024
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- June 26, 2024
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