Potential Theory Based Blank Design for Deep Drawing Irregular Shaped Components

A computer aided blank design method based on the potential theory and boundary element methods is presented. The potential theory approximately describes the material flow involved in deep drawing processes. Using the CAD model of an irregular shaped component, a specific number of cross sections at different heights can be generated. In order to obtain the blank shape, the outermost contour is determined by developing these sections gradually. This blank design procedure is like an imaginary reverse material flow governed by the potential theory. In addition, the boundary element method provides a good computational efficiency. This computer aided design method has been found effective by a manufacturer and the proposed approach can be used for a wide variety of complicated deep drawing components.