Position-Based Assist Pressure in Deep Drawing to Suppress Thinning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assist drawing technologies face challenges in preventing thinning and cracking, especially when working with aluminum alloys, and require extensive machining processes that increase production costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The assist drawing device incorporates a punch, drawing die, blank holder, assist punches, and a control system that allows for precise control of assist pressure, blank holder pressure, and cushion pressure in real-time, ensuring optimal forming conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If assist drawing is performed with predetermined assist pressure, then thinning and cracking are suppressed to some extent, but thinning and cracking still occur in drawn products with large width-to-height ratios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuppression of thinning and crackingVSAvoidproduct quality (absence of thinning and cracking)
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed predetermined assist pressure to dynamically adjustable assist pressure that varies according to punch position and material characteristics. The control device adjusts assist pressure in real-time during the drawing process, enabling optimal pressure application at each stage to prevent thinning and cracking while achieving deeper drawing depths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the assist pressure parameter based on punch position, material type, and drawing depth. The system changes pressure parameters dynamically rather than maintaining a constant value, allowing adaptation to varying stress conditions throughout the drawing process to eliminate thinning and cracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of stationary object

If multiple drawing passes or ironing operations are performed to achieve deep drawing, then drawing depth is increased, but production time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawing depthVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by preparing optimal assist pressure parameters and punch position schedules in advance through simulation or experimentation. This pre-planning enables single-pass deep drawing by ensuring the correct pressure profile is applied from the start, eliminating the need for multiple subsequent drawing passes or ironing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining continuous assist pressure application throughout the entire drawing process in a single pass. The control system ensures uninterrupted pressure support from the beginning to the end of the drawing stroke, enabling deep drawing to be completed in one continuous operation rather than multiple discrete steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Length of stationary object

If multiple punches are used for multi-stage machining, then drawing depth is increased, but the amount of machining oil and coolant oil required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrawing depthVSAvoidmachining oil and coolant oil consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting and eliminating the need for multiple punching operations through single-pass assist drawing. By achieving deep drawing in one operation, the system removes the requirement for subsequent machining steps that would generate additional oil consumption, thereby reducing total lubricant and coolant usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If assist pressure is increased to prevent thinning and cracking, then material integrity is improved, but the complexity of pressure control increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial integrityVSAvoidpressure control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using the control device to monitor punch position and material response in real-time, then adjusting assist pressure accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures material integrity is maintained while managing system complexity through automated feedback-based pressure regulation rather than manual or open-loop control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enables the formation of products with deeper depths while minimizing thinning, cracking, and machining oil usage, thereby reducing production costs and simplifying the process.

Implementation Method 1

a compressive stress field is formed at a location of the material to which the tensile stress is applied during forming so that thinning, cracking, or the like is suppressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressive stress: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a blank holder that suppresses wrinkles of the blank material 5

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4520451A1Assist drawing device
Publication Date: 2025.03.12 AIDA ENGINEERING LTD
  • EP4520451A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4520451A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4520451A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Provided is an assist drawing device (10) by which, when a punch (13) is moved from a stroke start edge toward a stroke end edge in accordance with a command from a control device (200) to a punch drive unit, and drawing is performed in cooperation with a drawing die (14) to thereby perform the drawing, assist drawing is performed while pressing a blank material (M) against the drawing die (14) by a blank holder (15) and pressing both end surfaces of the blank material (M) by assist punches (32A and 32B), and in which the control device (200) includes an assist pressure control unit configured to control an assist punch drive unit such that, when the assist drawing is performed, an assist pressure of the assist punches (32A and 32B) reaches a target assist pressure in accordance with a position of the punch (13).