Forming simulation comes within reach

StampingSimulation.com is enabling small tooling manufacturers to win large contracts from multinational corporations, by providing affordable access to advanced simulation technologies.

StampingSimulation.com is enabling small tooling manufacturers to win large contracts from multinational corporations, by providing affordable access to advanced simulation technologies.

StampingSimulation.com's mission is to champion the benefits of forming simulation technology to small and medium sized companies, offering a free real-time blank shape nesting report - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Since the early 1990s, the large automotive companies like Daymler-Chrysler, General Motors, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Renault and others pioneered the use of forming simulation software - in fact, this is essentially where forming simulation was developed.

However, this technology was reserved for the large automotive parent companies that had resources, money and time to throw at the technology in order to take it to the level where it is now.

The primary focus for these companies was to simulate their own in house die work (usually skin panels like doors, fenders, roof, hood and trunk lid) to solve problems with tooling after it was fabricated and trialled.

This was re-active engineering, that is, waiting for the problem to occur then using engineering tools to assist with the solution.

The industry has progressed enormously since these earlier days, and these same automotive parent companies are now using the technology as a pro-active engineering tool.

As soon as preliminary designs are released, production engineers are analysing formability and material yield, using forming simulation software.

The results are then fed back into the design cycle and changes are made on CAD, before any tool steel is cut.

The cycle repeats until the designer meets the design requirements and the production engineer's manufacturing requirements.

StampingSimulation.com Lead Engineer, Rupert Bliesner comments: "In the past, I have been involved with new product projects, and on presenting designs to toolmakers, I have been met with comments such as, 'Don't worry about that".

"If you can design it, we can make it.'".

Unfortunately, these are famous last words from a proud toolmaker who actually ends up making a poorly designed tool.

Recently, large automotive companies have started asking their suppliers to become production engineers.

That is, the large automotive parent companies design the product and then request feedback from their suppliers often prior to awarding the job, in order to improve their designs, improve manufacturability and sort out those suppliers who are capable and those who are not.

Bliesner continues: "In today's market, the large automotive parent companies now expect smaller suppliers and toolmakers to provide virtual analysis in order to support their requests for product shape changes or cost down ideas".

"And of course, it is not satisfactory to simply highlight an area of high compression and resulting wrinkles, but a solution must also be presented (such as an addition of a material soaker in the part design)".

"These are the suppliers and toolmakers that the large companies are now looking for".

StampingSimulation.com is enabling small to medium sized businesses by providing access to the tools they need to win new work and remain suppliers to the large multinationals.

Forming simulation technology in small and medium business is still in its infancy, but with services such as those provided by StampingSimulation.com, it is now in the reach of even the smallest company.

Back to top