Abstract
Combining today’s computer technology with new generation, multiple-action, hydraulic press equipment, has created a new process opportunity in deep drawing. Integrating these modern machine and computer controls with innovative programming and tool designs, has led to the development of a production process that produces a double reverse-drawn, cylindrical shell that significantly exceeds traditional Limiting Drawing Ratios (LDR). The method used to produce these shells employs a recently developed technique, herein referred to as Tractive Kinematic Regression, or more simply, the TKR process.
The TKR process promotes material flow by “feeding” material into the die cavity, as opposed to the punch having to “draw” or “pull” in the flange. This is accomplished through the use of concurrent - but unequal - force and motion curves of a forward moving punch and a regressing (reverse moving) die ring. The computer controlled kinematics, forces and motion curves resulted in less material straining and thereby, provided increased formability and improved LDR.
