Process Planning and Tool Design
In sheet metal forming, Process Planning and Tool Design are closely linked. A process planning engineer essentially carries out the following tasks to decide the strategy for manufacture of a sheet metal component :
- Study of part print - part geometry, material, accuracy.
- Development of blank geometry.
- Deciding sheet forming operations.
- Sequencing the forming operations.
- Development of Blank, Strip and Die layout.
- Design/Selection of Tools/Punches/Dies.
- Selection of Standard parts for Dies.
- Preparation of Die drawings and Bill of Materials (BOM)
It can be seen that for a specific part geometry, material and production requirement, a customized process sequence is designed . The Die is, in fact, a Process Plan realized in hardware.
Since the dies are capital intensive, all decisions in process planning need to be carefully taken. Process Planning is, thus, a very critical design task carried out by human experts having experience, expertise & knowledge.
With frequent product change - a characteristic of today's global manufacturing scenario, it is desirable to automate the process planning and tool design activities for sheet metal parts and link them up with the CAD/CAM activities for enhancing flexibility, productivity and product quality.