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Product category: Press tools - design, manufacture and usage, CAD/CAM, software
News Release from: Delcam | Subject: Toolmaker CAD software - deep drawing
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 10 January 2008

CAD speeds deep draw press tool design

Options specific to deep-draw press tool design, such as automated part shape orientation, have been added to CAD to provide dedicated functionality and shorten the design time.

Delcam has added a number of options specific to deep-draw press tool design in its Delcam Toolmaker CAD software Delcam Toolmaker has always been very capable of modelling the most complex press tools, said the company to manufacturingtalk.com, and is used by many car companies and their suppliers for the production of automotive body panels and other large sheet metal components

The options are aimed at shortening the design time by providing dedicated functionality for many of the tasks involved in preparing the tooling.

* Part shape orientation - the first improvement is a number of automated ways to orient the part shape to give the optimum tool design.

The user can choose between methods that minimise undercuts, that minimise the overall tool depth or that are based on averaging the normals of key surfaces.

Undercut shading has been improved to make it easier to compare the results obtained with the various options.

* Part outline simplification - the second enhancement provides a quick and easy method to fill in any concave regions around the edge of the part in order to simplify its outline.

The user simply needs to click on the beginning and end of the edge section, and the software does the rest.

It automatically creates a new surface that fills the gap, while working out the tangencies of the various edges to ensure continuity between the new surface and the adjoining areas.

* Creating the addendum surfaces - the next extra option is a new form to create the addendum surfaces; the smooth tangential run-offs from the part faces that control the flow of sheet metal during forming.

The user can select from a series of standard styles of addendum surface and then completes the form with the necessary dimensions and radii.

Again, the software will automatically maintain the tangency between the part surfaces and the addendum surfaces to give a smooth transition between the two.

* Automating the creation of the draw bead - another new form automates the creation of the draw bead; the groove in the tool that clamps the sheet metal to control its flow during pressing.

This form creates the draw bead route with an offset from the opening line of the punch and helps the user to specify the required profile.

Once the draw bead design has been finalised for the punch, the matching draw bar shape can be created in the die.

* Automated trim line creation - the final new option is automated trim line creation.

The option automatically calculates where to trim the metal after the forming operations and so provides the first stage in the design of the trimming tool.

In addition to the new range of commands, Delcam has added a library of standard components based on ISO catalogues.

The user can extend this library with any of the user company's frequently-used components. Request a free brochure from Delcam ...

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