Page 44 - MetalForming March 2017
P. 44

  Tooling by Design
By Peter Ulintz
The Experts Among Us
Metalformers require highly skilled, educated and adapt- able workers willing to retrain and update their skills to keep pace with changing technology. Stamping of advanced materials often requires workers to learn new process technolo- gies, such as composite sheet forming and additive manufacturing. And, skilled technicians must then gain new skills to implement, optimize and sup- port these processes.
Skilled workers are lacking in several professional trades, including tool and die design and CNC automation pro- gramming. Our industry also needs welders and welding engineers with skills and experience in welding of advanced high-strength steels, stainless steels and aluminum alloys.
Today’s die-buyoff process no longer consists of a run-at-rate and the production of dimensionally cor- rect parts. We need metalforming spe- cialists—or formability engineers— able to ensure that strain distributions and thinning gradients in stamped parts correlate well with computer simulations. These specialists must establish important process parame- ters such as blank-edge draw-in, springback boundaries and thinning
Peter Ulintz has worked in the metal stamping and tool and die industry since 1978. His back- ground includes tool and die making, tool engi- neering, process design, engineering manage- ment and advanced product development. As an educator and technical
presenter, Peter speaks at PMA national seminars, regional roundtables, international conferences, and college and university programs. He also pro- vides onsite training and consultations to the met- alforming industry.
Peter Ulintz
Technical Director, PMA pulintz@pma.org
strains, to ensure stable and controlled manufacturing processes. Their tools of the trade include circle grids, ten- sile-test data, strain distributions, thickness strain maps, forming-limit curves, ultrasonic-thickness gauges and friction-test data.
Apprentices entering the tool and die trades must be trained to become primarily metalforming specialists, not programmers, machinists and
Apprentices entering the tool and die trades must be trained to become primarily metalforming specialists, not programmers, machinists and assemblers.
assemblers. The traditional tool and die maker of the 1980s is not required today; rather, we need specialists experienced and trained in advanced metalforming processes and material technologies.
Where will this skilled workforce come from? Relying upon apprentice- ship programs that focus primarily on machining, assembly, measuring and repairing tooling simply will not suffice. Instead, metalformers and die shops must engage with subject-matter experts to acquire knowledge not read- ily available within their own compa- nies. This type of knowledge, experi- ence and expertise generally comes from experts outside the organization, via, for example, seminars and confer- ences. In these arenas, attendees can
network with industry peers and sub- ject-matter experts to expand their per- sonal knowledge while developing an expansive network of resources for the exchange of ideas and problem-solving strategies.
Where do these subject-matter experts come from? Very likely, one resides somewhere inside your com- pany; perhaps it is you. If you have specialized experience or a focused interest, perhaps in materials, factory automation, quality processes, multi- slide tooling, die welding, die mainte- nance, press-brake operations, etc., please consider sharing your knowl- edge and experience with industry peers by delivering a technical pres- entation at FABTECH later this year. PMA invites interested members to submit an abstract for consideration for the 2017 stamping-track sessions at FABTECH, November 6-9, 2017, in Chicago, IL. Apply by visiting www.fabtechexpo.com/education; deadline is April 7, 2017.
Another opportunity to share your expertise with the industry is to present at a PMA seminar. Seminar speakers experience intrinsic satisfaction know- ing that they are contributing to the development and success of the indi- vidual attendees and also advancing the metalforming industry as a whole. Speakers routinely learn from one another and often develop lasting friendships. No presentation experi- ence? None required. PMA offers men- toring to new speakers to help develop engaging presentations in their field of expertise and also build self-confi- dence. If interested, please contact me at pulintz@pma.org.
Help overcome the critical shortage of skilled metalforming technicians and specialists and become part of the solution. Please volunteer your time and talent to the industry. MF
   42 MetalForming/March 2017
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