Abstract
A radio frequency(R/F) switch connector is widely used in wireless devices such as mobile phone and navigator to check defects of the circuit board of product. The R/F switch connector shell plays a role in protecting the switch connector. Previously, this part was machined using a turning, which is time-consuming and has poor material utilization. Furthermore, the workpiece material of brass containing lead that has excellent machinability has environmentally regulated during recent years. The purpose of the current study was to develop the connector shell by forming through progressive dies including embossing, burring and forging process in order to achieve higher productivity and dimensional accuracy without tool failure. To accomplish this objective, a strip layout was designed and finite element (FE) analysis was performed for each step in the process. Try-out for the connector shell was conducted using progressive die design based on FE-analysis results. Dimensional accuracy of developed part was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The result of the investigation for the dimensions of the formed connector shell showed that the required dimensional accuracy was satisfied. Moreover, productivity using the progressive die increased four times compared to previous machining process.
