Abstract
The paper reports an investigation into two rapid sheet metal
cooling designs that are suitable for applications in hot-stamping production
- air cooling and contact cooling, aiming at improving formability of the
high-strength aluminium sheets for the forming of components with
complex geometries with enhanced overall process efficiency. The
investigation involved both numerical modelling and experimental trials
using an in-house developed prototype cooling tools. A series of contact
cooling experiments were conducted, considering process variables such as
initial blank temperatures, cooling die temperatures, die materials, surface
conditions, etc. The results demonstrated that the cooling rate of the
aluminium blank could be accurately controlled by both methods with
appropriate pre-setting of the equipment and control of the process
parameters. The integration of the cooling system into a polit hot-stamping
production was also tried, considering industry-scale applications related
factors. The results can serve as a design guidance for an industry to
introduce such cooling methods and manufacturing facilities.
cooling designs that are suitable for applications in hot-stamping production
- air cooling and contact cooling, aiming at improving formability of the
high-strength aluminium sheets for the forming of components with
complex geometries with enhanced overall process efficiency. The
investigation involved both numerical modelling and experimental trials
using an in-house developed prototype cooling tools. A series of contact
cooling experiments were conducted, considering process variables such as
initial blank temperatures, cooling die temperatures, die materials, surface
conditions, etc. The results demonstrated that the cooling rate of the
aluminium blank could be accurately controlled by both methods with
appropriate pre-setting of the equipment and control of the process
parameters. The integration of the cooling system into a polit hot-stamping
production was also tried, considering industry-scale applications related
factors. The results can serve as a design guidance for an industry to
introduce such cooling methods and manufacturing facilities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 01006 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | MATEC Web of Conferences |
| Volume | 401 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Aug 2024 |
| Event | 21st International Conference on Manufacturing Research - Glasgow, United Kingdom Duration: 28 Aug 2024 → 30 Aug 2024 https://www.icmr.org.uk/ |
Funding
Support from the European Commission for conducting research into the “Low cost materials processing technologies for mass production of lightweight vehicles” through the LoCoMaTech project (NMBP GA723517) is acknowledged.
Keywords
- sheet metal cooling
- aluminium