CAE Modeling of Hot Stamping Tool Wear

To assess the wear of the hot stamping tool, a model of punch deformation under the influence of thermal and mechanical loads was developed. The shape and relative position of the punch and die were designed to localize maximum contact loads at a predetermined location. It was assumed that the punch wear is caused by a removal of the surface metal layer, due to decreasing its mechanical strength during hot plastic deformation. Simulation was performed by the finite element method in the Deform software package. A temperature field and wear pattern in the contact zone were calculated. With respect to the loads typical for hot forging railway wheels, the comparison showed that the wear in a numerical experiment is of the same level as the actual value of wear.

The Effects of Cryogenic Process on the AISI M2 Punch Materials and on the Hole Edge Geometry of the DIN EN 10111-98 Sheet Metal Control Arm Parts

In this study, not only the effects of cryogenic processing on the wear of AISI M2 punches but also the effects of punch wear on the hole edge geometry of DIN EN 10111-98 sheet metal control arm parts were investigated. The hole geometry changes are generally associated with punch wear and process parameters. Piercing operations were performed using eccentric press on 2.5-mm-thick sheet metal control arm parts with circular and slot AISI M2 tool steel punches. The punches were traditionally heat treated. The others were cryogenically treated at −145°C in addition to the conventional heat treatment. Weight losses were measured for punch wear assessments; furthermore, SEM and OM images were analyzed. The hole edge geometries of the selected parts were measured with a contour measuring machine in the specified number of blanks. So, no damage was done to the products for measurements. The cryogenic process resulted in a significantly low amount of retained austenite and caused uniformly distributed thin carbide precipitates. Reduction of retained austenite and formation of fine carbide particles led to increase in hardness values. It was found that untreated circular punch wear weight losses were approximately 40% higher than those of cryogenically treated samples. The untreated slot punch change rate was about 106% higher than that of the cryogenically treated samples. The wear process during the punching was faster and greater for the untreated punches. Fatigue microcracks were more common at the cutting edge of the untreated punches. However, abrasive wear was generally observed in cryogenically treated punches. The edge geometry values in the circular holes were at least two times higher than those in the slot holes of untreated samples. At the end of the industrial piercing process, it was determined that the M2 tool steel punch wear rates were decreased by cryogenic treatment, and the size changes of the hole geometry of the punches of the DIN EN 10111-98 control arm parts were more economic and with a better quality.

Punch Wear in the Forming of Deep Holes with Pulse Ram Motion on a Servo Press

For the fabrication of lightweight components such as hollow components, we proposed a cold extrusion method for forming of deep holes that utilizes a punch with an internal channel for the supply of liquid lubricant using a servo press. The relationship between the punch ram motion and the punch wear in the proposed forming method is investigated by the finite element analysis in this study. The punch wear is determined by using the Archard’s equation. Although low friction at specimen–punch interface realizes in the forming with pulse punch ram motion (proposed forming method), the punch wear in the backward extrusion with pulse punch ram motion is 1.1–2.4 times larger than that with no pulse punch ram motion (conventional forming method). The influence of punch ram motion and friction on the punch wear is discussed.