Reducing die wear is an effective way to decrease costs within bulk forming processes. Therefore, specific tool materials and heat treatments as well as special coatings are used to prolong the lifetime of the tools. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings show high hardness and superior frictional behavior. However, these coatings seem to be inappropriate for hot forming due to degradation processes at elevated temperatures. But for warm forming, due to the lower temperature input into the cavity DLC might be an appropriate coating. Friction influences the shear stresses on the cavity surface and is therefore an important factor for reducing die wear. Hence, the frictional behavior of DLC coatings within warm forming will be analyzed within this paper by using the ring compression test. An amorphous hydrogenated carbon coating and six metallic doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon coatings (Cr, V and W each in two variants) are compared to CrN and no coating. Firstly, nomograms are graphed by the use of Finite-Element-Analysis. Thereafter two test series are carried out varying forming temperature and lubrication. The results show that DLC coatings with and without metallic doping are able to reduce friction in warm forming. Within the investigations an amorphous hydrogenated carbon doped with 15 % chromium shows the lowest friction factor and is able to reduce the friction factor compared to no coating by up to 64 % within warm forming.
diamond-like carbon (DLC), friction, warm forming, bulk forming, ring compression test
The challenge in developing a hydroforming process for Tailored Hybrid Tubes is to provide feasible forming conditions for both the steel and the aluminum part of the semi-finished hybrid material. The aim of these investigations is to develop one-stage tube hydroforming processes for steel-aluminum-joints. Therefore, the effects on the materials’ forming behavior, especially the flow stress, of the parameters alloy, thickness, forming rate and seam design are being investigated. Forming tests were carried out on sheet metal specimens of joined steel and aluminum to investigate the impact of the varied parameters and to analyze the joint area’s forming behavior. Based on the results of the forming tests an FEA-simulation will be set up in order to design a hydroforming process for Tailored Hybrid Tubes of laser joined steel and aluminum. Eventually the hydroforming process of Tailored Hybrid Tubes shall be executed for a sample part.
hydroforming, automotive, laser brazing, laser soldering, steel-aluminum, car body, engine downsizin
Hot forging dies are subjected to high mechanical, thermal and chemical loads. These loads can lead to die failure and therefore are one of the main cost factors in forging industry. The billet temperature is the process parameter mainly influencing the loads in forging processes. In warm forging the billet temperature is much lower than in hot forging. Warm forging becomes more and more important due to the advantages against hot and cold forging. This paper describes an analysis of FE-simulations of the change in loads on forging dies and the effect on the die life time by changing from hot to warm forging processes. Furthermore a method is presented which enables a calculation of thermal stresses in forging processes.
warm forging, hot forging, thermal stresses, tool wear
Using hybrid forging techniques, both bulk or sheet metal can be formed and joined in a single step, rendering subsequent joining processes unnecessary. Moreover, using sheet metal rather than bulk material means that material-savings can be made and/or more economical forming units can be used.
hybrid, forging, sheet metal forming, joining technology, steel, adhesive bond
Preforming is an essential step in flashless forging processes. This paper describes the development of a four stage process chain for flashless forging of a crankshaft with pin and flange. The process consists of cross wedge rolling, lateral extrusion, bi-directional forging and final forming. The finite-element-analysis (FEA) performed with the software Forge 3 and experimental tests are executed with different process parameters, like billet and tool temperature, rolling velocity and steel. To reduce process steps, like lateral extrusion, a direct combination of cross wedge rolling and bidirectional forging is analysed with FEA-software Forge 3 for a one cylinder crankshaft without pin and flange. The results of the FEA give suitable forming angles alpha for cross wedge rolling and several geometric parameters for a modification of the bi-directional tool.
cross wedge rolling, bi-directional forging, crankshaft forging without flash, preforming
While definitions already exist for smaller scale device structures e. g. nanotechnology, the conceptual distinction between standard large products and large scale or XXL products is currently insufficient. This study presents a basic definition of large scale products. At first hypotheses are being derived and examined at an empirical study of three sample products threaded nuts, screw presses and passenger aircrafts. It will be shown that the transition from conventional products to XXL large scale products is characterized by a disproportionate increase in the ratio of product costs to the augmentation of a characteristic product’s feature. Based on the results a definition for the characterization of large scale products is established referring to the technical, organizational and economical restraints and to the available processes and tools.
xxl-product, large-scale, xxl, definition
The range of structure sizes for industrial products produced today is increasingly expanding. This trend is evident in both small-scale (e.g. semiconductor applications) and large-scale (e.g. wind turbine rotors) products. While definitions already exist for smaller scale device structures, the conceptual distinction between conventional large products and large scale products is currently insufficient. In this study, we present a potential basis for the definition of large scale products. To achieve this, we derive hypotheses and examine these in the context of an empirical study using the examples of several sample products. It is shown that the transition from conventional products to large scale products is characterized by a disproportionate increase in product costs due to the augmentation of a characteristic product feature. Eventually we derive a proposed definition which characterizes large scale products in the field of production engineering.
xxl-product, large-scale, xxl, definition
The production of titanium parts in small batches using a flexible machine and a fast layout method as well as a temperature and defect measurement were not considered in investigations yet. However the industry using valuable materials showed interest in this technology and the CWR module in order to realize the advantages of the CWR technology for small and medium batch sizes. Therefore a CWR machine for flat wedge tools will be developed in the EU project CoVaForm. The wedge tools used in this project will be designed for rolling titanium and micro-alloyed steel. To help SMEs a software tool will be developed for designing CWR processes. Especially for rolling valuable materials like titanium, the boundary conditions are mostly unknown; therefore pre-tests will be done to get process parameters which will enable a working CWR process. To ensure a defect-free production, a quality control will be developed based on thermography which detects defective parts directly during the rolling operation.
cross wedge rolling, CWR machine, titanium, bainitic grade steel, common rail, hip implant
The production of titanium parts in small batches using a flexible machine and a fast layout method as well as a temperature and defect measurement were not considered in investigations yet. However the industry using valuable materials showed interest in this technology and the CWR module in order to realize the advantages of the CWR technology for small and medium batch sizes. Therefore a CWR machine for flat wedge tools will be developed in the EU project CoVaForm. The wedge tools used in this project will be designed for rolling titanium and micro-alloyed steel. To help SMEs a software tool will be developed for designing CWR processes. Especially for rolling valuable materials like titanium, the boundary conditions are mostly unknown; therefore pre-tests will be done to get process parameters which will enable a working CWR process. To ensure a fault-free production, a quality control will be developed based on thermography which detects faulty parts directly during the rolling operation.
cross wedge rolling, CWR machine, titanium, bainitic grade steel, common rail, hip implant
By increasing the height of wind turbine generators the usable wind energy increases exponentially. However, tower weight increases accordingly. Current tower designs limit the tower height due to the explained correlation. The application of lightweight design concepts can lead to a significant weight reduction at comparable tower stiffness. As part of a research project, lightweight design concepts have been developed. These design concepts allow a mass reduction for onshore wind turbine towers up to 20 %. In this paper, the development and results regarding these lightweight concepts are presented.
xxl-product, large-scale, xxl, wind turbine, wind power, lightweight construction, tower constructio
Hydoroforming of titanium tubes was investigated by the Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH) and the Institute of Metal Forming Siegen. The basic research for designing a multi-stage process chain of hollow profiles made of titanium grade 2 was divided into three sub-items, the material model, the annealing treatment and friction value determination. The results were brought together in a simulation model, which enabled developing a multistage process chain.
hydroforming, FEA, titanium
Different billet dimensions or progressive die wear increase the geometric fluctuations of forged parts. This can lead to waste. Mostly this geometric fluctuations are compensated by increased billet masses which leads to lower efficiency in the manufacturing process. In a research project a controlled, moveable flash gap was examined, that enables the alteration of the material flow to increase the part quality.
forging, die design, material flow, FEA, flash land
The precision forging is energy and time saving. Therefore the basics of this topic are presented. On the one hand the material characteristics as temperature and yield stress development are shown. On the other hand tool geometry and construction instructions are given. Beyond these topics the principles of FEM, reachable tolerances are presented. Different types of crankshafts, a gear wheel and a pinion shaft are examples that were successfully investigated and even party produced in industrial environment. The goal of this chapter is to show the basic knowledge of precision forging.
precision forging, flashless
In this study two approaches in automotive lightweight construction have been combined: weight reduction based on material and based on structural design. Steel and aluminum are used for the first approach, and hydroforming is the method for design optimization by shaping. Steel and aluminum show different forming behaviors due to their characteristic yield stresses. The challenge in developing a hydroforming process for THTs is to provide feasible forming conditions for both the steel and the aluminum part. Forming tests were carried out on sheet metal specimens of laser brazed and laser soldered steel and aluminum to investigate the impact of specific parameters and to analyze the joint area’s forming behavior. An FEA simulation was set up in order to design a tube hydroforming process for THTs of laser joined steel and aluminum. Eventually, the hydroforming process for THTs will be designed and executed.
hydroforming, automotive, laser brazing, laser soldering, steel-aluminum, car body, engine downsizin
The project REFoCh is about resource efficient forging of complex high duty parts, e.g. crankshafts. Within this project founded by the European Union, a new process chain for a crankshaft will be developed with the aim of reducing the flash quota significantly. In the conventional forging sequence, 54 % flash occur, the aimed flash quota is 15 %. To reach this objective, a multidirectional forging step will be implemented in the new process chain in order to reduce the material significantly.
flash reduced, multidirerectional forging, cranskshafts
The material costs represent up to 50 % of the total production costs. By decreasing the flash ratio the material usage and production costs in forging operations can be reduced. For complicated forging parts the development of a new forging sequence is necessary to achieve a flash reduced forging sequence. This development was performed for a two-cylinder crankshaft. The new flash reduced forging sequence is using flashless preforming operations, an induction reheating of the preformed complicated work piece and a flash reduced final forging. With the reduction of the flash ratio from 54 % down to 10 % the total energy consumption was reduced and the competitive capacity of forging SME’s is increasing.
flash reduced, process chain, crankshaft, induction heating
Today most technical parts and components are made of monolithic materials. Nevertheless, the previously used monolithic materials reach their technological and constructive limits, so that an improvement of the component properties can be realized by hybrid parts. Forging of previously joined semi-finished products to net shape hybrid components is a promising method to produce functional adapted parts in a few process steps. This new process chain offers a number of advantages compared to other manufacturing technologies. Examples are the production of specific load-adapted forging parts with a high level of material utilization, an improvement of the joining zone caused by the followed forming process and an easy to implement joining process because of the simple geometries of the semi-finished products. This paper describes the production process of hybrid steel parts, which are produced by a combination of a deposition welding process with a subsequent hot forging (upsetting) or cross-wedge-rolling. It could be shown that the innovative process chain enables the production of hybrid parts whereby the forging processes lead to an improvement of the mechanical properties of the laser deposited material.
process chain, deposition welding, hot forging, cross-wedge-rolling
The usable wind energy increases exponentially by increasing the height of wind turbine generators. The material requirements and the tower weight increases disproportionately high by growing tower height. In current designs, the height of towers is limited. The application of lightweight design concepts in the production of wind turbine tower sections can lead to a reduction in the weight with the same tower stiffness. Therefore lightweight designs have great potential to increase wind turbine efficiency. In this paper, the results of the research for lightweight concepts and their implementation on towers and a guiding systematic approach are presented. As part of the research, design concepts have been developed. These design concepts allow the mass reduction, with constant stiffness, for the wind turbine towers on land (onshore). Several investigation loops of these lightweight designs were run. Different concepts of bionics, aviation, aerospace and automotive have been investigated for their suitability in wind turbine towers. A suitable concept was identified based on trapezoidal sheets. Using these sheets, the weight of towers can be reduced by 20 %.
xxl-product, large-scale, xxl, wind turbine, wind power, lightweight construction, tower constructio
In this paper the development of the new production technology hybrid forging is described. Hybrid forging combines forming of bulk and sheet metal-elements including joining. Using three model experiments the joining by material bond and by form closure is analyzed. The form closure works like a riveting and the experiments showed good results. But not in every area of the specimen a material bond was present.
hybrid, forging, sheet metal forming, joining technology, steel, adhesive bond
The strength/density ratio of aluminium can be increased significantly by the integration of ceramic particles in the metal matrix, so called Aluminum MMC. Because machining of MMCs is very expensive due to the high hardness of the ceramic particles precision forging of Aluminum MMCs allows the high quantity production of near net shape components with a strength/density ration. The paper describes the development of a precision forging sequence for a demonstration made of Aluminum MMC.
aluminium metal matrix composites, flashless forging, FEA
