Page 35 - MetalForming May 2014

while retaining good tooling conditions. “But an experienced designer who understands what process is necessary for making the proper, most-stable tool- ing in the shortest amount of time can enter a minimum set of conditions based on knowledge and experience,” Linde- mann continues. “He knows, for exam- ple, that the hunk of tool steel should not be less than 1 in. thick given the grade of material to be stamped, so he enters that as a minimum condition. He sees that a certain angle is needed in a certain location, so he sets a condition there. Throughout all of this, the experienced designer can see the scrap-percentage factor change on the screen as the soft-
ware automatically calculates it.”
At this intersection of expertise between designer and software, con- ditions are optimized, yielding an ideal balance of scrap generation and tool
robustness.
“Designers can use their experience,
and through that the software helps them arrive at the best solution,” Lin- demann says.
Die-design software also assists experienced tool designers and adds efficiency by thinking like designers think.
“They know that they must punch holes in the steel before forming,” Lin- demann adds. “They know that when pulling a punch it must go through a particular piece of steel with so much clearance and then go through another piece of steel with even more clearance, and then go into another piece of steel and hold it. The software stores that in job memory, making it repeatable and ensuring a proper design while saving time in trying to recreate everything.”
Through such interactions, the experienced designer adds to the knowledge base in the software sys- tem, and through the system makes that knowledge available to those who are less experienced—junior design- ers, for example, or those in the quote department.
“Good designers know what differ- ent features and operations will cost,” concludes Lindemann, “and can build up the knowledge database inside of
the quote system, for example. Less experienced personnel draw from that, leading to more accurate quotes.”
Consider the Big Picture
With simulation software gaining acceptance throughout the industry, lead-time-reduction arguments are los- ing some luster. Going forward, users of simulation software can differentiate themselves if they leverage its capa-
bilities to see the bigger picture. So stresses Eric Kam, product manager at AutoForm Engineering USA, Troy, MI.
“We challenge people in that, because since computers are so fast and simulation tools have automated things to a high degree, don’t we owe it to ourselves to simulate the road not taken?” Kam asks. “Look, for example, at cam trimming versus direct trim- ming and then flanging down in a later
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MetalForming/May 2014 33
READY, SET, RENDERED! Confifigure
Change the options below to customize the model for downloading. Click the Update Preview button to apply your changes to the 3D or 2D viewer on the left.
Type:
Type A Ball Bearing
Style: Style 75
Ball Bearing Type: Standard Maxicage Material:
1020
Width (F - B):
3B
4 - 150
Length (L - R): 64
4 - 150
Minimum Shut Height: 11.5
3 - 30
Punch Holder Thickness: 2.5
0.75 - 6
Die Shoe Thickness:
3
0.75 - 6
Diameter of Components 2
Pin Type:
Straight
Bushing Type: Demountable
Pin Length:
11
Bushing Length:
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5
Cage Length:
4.5
Pin Part #:
331-1644 Bushing Part #:
336-1650
Ball Cage Part #:
335-1618
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access through 3D CAD Link at www.superiordieset.com
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