Thursday, February 04, 2010

Tool & Die Authority - January 2010

The Tool and Die Authority January 2010 Newsletter contained these articles:

Marketing Makes a Difference for Manufacturers — Part 1: Joe Brown
Breaking Speed Limits, Part 2: Peter Ulintz
Can Robotics Help a Tool and Die Shop?: Bob Quinn
The Sensor that Cries Wolf—or, Eliminating Nuisance Faults: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
The 20-Percent Maximum Thinning Rule (or, How Much is Too Much?)

Everyone likes to have a “Rule of Thumb” to use as a quick and easy guide. To make the best use of these maxims, it helps to understand where they come from, and what the limitations are in their use.


When it comes to taking the right steps to ensure a robust stamping process, a surface-strain analysis using a forming-limit diagram (FLD) is recommended. The forming limit curve (FLC) should be generated from the minimum allowable thickness and the lower mill production limit (or the -3σ value) for the strain-hardening exponent (n-value). To bypass some of the work involved in generating this information, some companies have chosen to use a rule of thumb that calls for a maximum 20-percent thickness reduction on a formed part compared with the initial flat-blank thickness. In some cases, this is an acceptable substitution, but in many cases, using this 20-percent threshold only confuses the proper course of action.

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

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Worldwide Steel Production Falls 8%; Chinese Steel Production Increases 13.5%

New data released by WorldSteel.org shows that worldwide steel production fell by 8% in 2009 compared with 2008. However, steel production in China increased by 13.5%, and now represents just under half of all steel produced worldwide.

Steel Production in Million Metric Tons (from www.WorldSteel.org)
Region 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
EU 27 192.5 202.5 195.6 207.0 209.7 198.0 139.1
Other Europe 21.3 23.9 25.0 28.2 30.6 31.8 29.2
Former USSR 106.5 113.4 113.2 119.9 124.2 114.3 97.5
United States 93.7 99.7 94.9 98.6 98.1 91.4 58.1
Other NAFTA 32.5 34.3 32.7 33.2 34.5 33.1 24.2
South America 43.0 45.9 45.3 45.3 48.2 47.4 37.8
Africa 16.3 16.7 18.0 18.8 18.8 17.1 15.2
Middle East 13.4 14.3 15.3 15.4 16.5 16.6 17.2
China 222.3 282.9 353.2 419.1 489.3 500.3 567.8
Japan 110.5 112.7 112.5 116.2 120.2 118.7 87.5
Other Asia 109.5 116.9 129.8 137.0 147.0 149.3 140.1
Australia/New Zealand 8.4 8.3 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.4 6.0
Total (rounded) 970 1071 1144 1247 1346 1326 1220