The Future is Forming

There is a review article on Hot Stamping available from FMA on TheFabricator.com.
The article addresses these questions:

What Is Hot Stamping?
How Does the Process Work?
Why Hot Stamp?
Which Components Are Hot-Formed?
What Are the Unique Press and Tooling Requirements?
How Does It Affect Downstream Processes?
What Are Other Capability Considerations?
What Are Hot Stamping's Limitations?
How Do I Compare Costs?
What Is the Future of Hot Stamping?

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 3:33 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority February 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

U.S.-Korea Trade Imbalance, Part 2: Joe Brown
Avoiding Punch- Head Breakage: Peter Ulintz
How About a Little ‘Coopetition’ to Ride out the Storm: Bob Quinn
Part Measurement ‘On the Fly’—Part 1: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
What is Steel? Part 2: Medium-Strength and Conventional High-Strength Steels

A good rule of thumb: The transition from mild steel to high-strength steel occurs at a yield strength of about 30 KSI (210 MPa). For yield strengths between 30 and 50 KSI, metalformers typically provide a simple carbon-manganese (C-Mn) steel, unless other restrictions are placed on the order. The composition of these steels approaches that of low-carbon mild steels, except that C-Mn steels contain more carbon and manganese to increase strength to the desired level. No special alloying or thermal treatments are needed at the mill, making these alloys relatively inexpensive. Unfortunately, this approach usually is not practical for yield strengths greater than 50 KSI, due to a drop-off in elongation and weldability. This limits the use of C-Mn steels to those parts without complex requirements for shape, strength or weldability. ...

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Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:52 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority January 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

U.S.-Korea Trade Relationship Points to Reasons for Auto, Tooling Troubles: Joe Brown
Failure Analysis: Punch-Head Breakage: Peter Ulintz
Time-Saving Alternatives for the Toolroom—Part 3: Bob Quinn
The Perils of Reverse Tonnage and Improper Counterbalance Settings: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
What is Steel?…Part 1

I’m sure for some of you, the answer to the question—What is Steel?—is, “really expensive!” That discussion is best left for another column. Here we are going to get back to basics. And most simply, steel is just iron plus no more than about 2.1 percent carbon. (If you have more than 2.1 percent carbon, it’s called cast iron.) For this article, we’ll cover low-carbon steel, where carbon content tops out at around 0.1 to 0.2 percent. ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:45 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority December 2008 Newsletter contained these articles:

Strange Times Call for Strange Bedfellows: Joe Brown
Failure Analysis for Stamping Dies, Part 2: Tool-Steel Heat treatment: Peter Ulintz
Time-Saving Alternatives for the Toolroom—Part 2: Bob Quinn
Error-Proofing Proactively with Proper Setups: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)
The Case for Thinning Strain Analysis

The past two editions of this series discussed circle grid strain analysis and the potential errors that improper technique can induce in your results. The easiest way to check your measurements is to compare the thickness calculated from your circle-grid surface-strain measurements to thickness measurements made using an ultrasonic thickness (UT) gauge. But, there is so much more information you can get from your part and process with just thickness measurements!
Thinning strain analysis (TSA) is easier to perform than circle grid analysis (CGA), and requires very little operator training. TSA can be performed on any formed part, without special preparation of the blank or tools before stamping, and it requires less stamping-plant involvement and assistance. Production stamping schedules are less likely to be disrupted when a TSA is needed, and TSA can be used when is it not practical to place circle grids on a blank— such as for parts stamped on a progressive die or in the central portion of a very large blank. ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:05 AM | Permalink |
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Salinity is a measure of the total amount of dissolved solids present in water.

• The salinity of fresh water is less than 0.05% by weight.
• The salinity of ocean water typically ranges from about 3.3% to 3.7% (3.3 to 3.7 parts per hundred) by weight.
• Marine geologists normally use units of parts per thousand (abbreviated as ‰), so the salinity of ocean water is about 35‰, compared to less than 0.5‰ for fresh water.
• Units of parts per million are sometimes used: the salinity of ocean water is about 35,000 ppm, while the salinity of fresh water is typically less than 500 ppm.

As determined initially by Dittmar in 1884 on samples collected during the Challenger Expedition (1872-1876), the ratios of the various ions in sea water are nearly independent of salinity and location in the ocean.

• The Red Sea, for example, with a salinity of close to 40‰, has more ions than “average” seawater. However, here and elsewhere around the world, the relative proportions of all ions are the same. Worldwide, the ratio of chloride ions to sodium ions in seawater is 55.1 / 30.6 = 1.8.
• The “Rule of Constant Proportions” applies only to seawater and not fresh water (i.e., river water). Note the magnitude of the ionic concentrations in fresh water – a slight change of a few parts per million either higher or lower will significantly change the ratios.

The ionic concentrations in this table are approximations compiled from numerous literature sources. The specific values in your particular sample may be different from what is shown, but in the case of seawater, the ratios of the ions will be the same.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 11:12 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority November 2008 Newsletter contained these articles:

Time for Tooling Industry to Step Up and Train: Joe Brown
Failure Analysis for Stamping Dies—General Procedures: Peter Ulintz
Time-Saving Alternative to Six-Sided Grinding—Part 1: Bob Quinn

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)
Circle Grid Strain Analysis—Confirm that Ellipse Measurements Make Sense

Last month, we learned that the measurement technique used to determine the dimensions of a deformed ellipse is critical, and that the proper method is to measure from the center-width position of the line that makes up the circumference around the circle.

In this month’s column, I’ll discuss a simple method to confirm that your ellipse measurements make sense. A flat sheetmetal blank has known length, width and thickness dimensions. Since material formability is not exempt from the laws of physics, the total amount of material must maintain a constant volume before, during and after forming, even though the specific values of length, width and thickness will change as a result of forming. This allows for calculation of a thickness strain (et), since the major (eMA), minor (emi), and thickness strains in that volume of material multiplied together must equal 1 ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:00 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority October 2008 Newsletter contained these articles:

We Need Apprenticeship Programs, or Soon the Die May be Cast: Joe Brown
Quick Fixes for Slug Pulling: Peter Ulintz
The Basics of Efficient Die Making: Bob Quinn

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Measuring Accurately During Circle Grid Strain Analysis

For several decades, sheetmetal stampers have used strain analysis to make their parts and products more robust to handle the natural and inherent variation in mechanical properties of the sheetmetal they order. But have you ever thought about how much your technique can influence the results?

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 2:23 PM | Permalink |
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