Flanging and Hemming of Auto Body Panels using the Electro Magnetic Forming technology
Electro Magnetic Forming (EMF) technology has a great number of potential applications for the automotive industry. LABEIN-Tecnalia has worked with this technology for six years and has a good understanding of the automotive industry’s needs and challenges. LABEIN-Tecnalia is currently developing new applications with EMF technology. Taking into account the advantages and limitations of EMF, bending and hemming processes present good geometric conditions for the use of this technology. The study presented is based largely on hemming circular configurations which are simplifications of those commonly used on hemmed automotive parts. The parameters of this new EMF bending and hemming processes have been studied, as well as their influence on the final quality of the parts obtained. Conclusions obtained from the basic geometries were tested on a more complicated geometry in order to apply the knowledge acquired. Parallel to the experimental work, fully coupled electromechanical software by LS-DYNA has been used to simulate and extend the present hemming results.
Straight Hemming of Aluminum Sheet Panels Using the Electromagnetic Forming Technology: First Approach
Hemming is the last or one of the latest stage operations for the stamped parts. For this reason it has a critical importance on the performance and perceived quality of assembled vehicles. It is used to attach two sheet metal parts together or to improve appearance creating a smooth edge rather than a razor edge with burrs. However, designing the hemmed union is not always easy and is deeply influenced by the mechanical properties of the material of the bended part. Main problems for the automotive industry arise when bending aluminum alloys. Aluminum sheet is more difficult to hem due to its susceptibility to strain localization during the hemming process. This phenomenon produces cracking on the hemmed edge [1]. In order to avoid this problem and due to the limitations of conventional flanging and hemming technologies, the flange radii must be increased and a rope hem used (instead of the flat hem used with steels) when working with aluminum alloys. These changes on the design of the hem union give as a result a lower quality final product [2]. Dies and tools used for the hemming process are designed based on experience and on lengthy and costly die tryouts. Continuing with the development of new applications for the Electromagnetic Forming (EMF) technology, LABEIN-Tecnalia and Professor Glenn Daehn’s group from The Ohio State University carried out some first straight flat hemming experiments using the AA 6016 T4 aluminum alloy. The results obtained from these first trials are presented in this paper giving a first sight of the possibilities, advantages and disadvantages of using the Electromagnetic Forming technology for the hemming of aluminum sheet panels. Using a non-clouped FEM simulation method, the experimental results are compared to the ones obtained with the simulations. The future working line in developing this new application for the Electromagnetic Forming technology will be based on the results obtained by this study.
Economics of General-Purpose Assembly Robots
Summary A study of the comparative economics of various automatic assembly systems using general-purpose assembly robots is described. In the study, use is made of a “typical” candidate assembly whose profile is obtained from statistical analysis of actual products submitted by interested companies. It is shown that the choice of assembly system and the various parts presentation methods depends on three main factors, namely: the annual production volume per shift, the number of parts in the product and the equipment payback period.