Abstract
A variable blank holding force method is proposed to improve deep drawing characteristics of sheet materials. In this method, the blank holding force (BHF) is controlled throughout a drawing process so that the punch load does not exceed a critical value, which is slightly less than the conventional process with the conforming process with the variable BHF is more flexible than the conventional process with the constant BHF and it could be used for improving the product's quality and drawability. In this paper we suggest a method controlling the BHF as a function of punch travel during the forming process. The optimization BHF curves are determined theoretically and experimentally. It is concluded that for the case of optimum BHF control methods the drawn cup height and the drawing formability achieved by this method are increased than those for constant BHF method. Also, as comparing the wall thickness distribution of the cup drawn by the constant BHF and the optimum BHF control, the BHF control reduce the wall thickness variation of the drawn cup at the cup wall and make the cup thickness distribution more uniformly than the constant BHF.
