Study of Flexible Blank-Drawer Forming for Sheet Metal

Abstract

In order to save the manufacturing cost and solve problems of stamping, a new type of flexible blank-drawer (FBD) forming device was presented by the authors based on the principle of flexible stretch-forming. It can be used with a variety of different sizes, different shapes of stamping die which can cut the manufacturing cost and shorten the development cycle of sheet metal forming largely. Extensive numerical simulations of the process for forming saddle parts were carried out and the forming results using FBD were compared with those using traditional blank-holder (TBH). By adjusting the value of blank-drawer force, good quality of saddle parts can be attained easily. Simulation results indicate that FBD forming can solve the shortages of TBH forming, inhibit wrinkle, prevent fracture, and form parts with small springback and uniform strain. This work can provide useful guidance in plastic forming technology for sheet metal.