Disclosed is a hot stamping device and method for preventing plating from sticking to a die. The hot stamping device may include a die that receives a heated plating material, presses the received plating material, and rapidly cools the pressed plating material in a constrained state. Before the plating material is pressed, an anti-sticking layer may be formed on the surface of the die disposed in contact with the plating material.

A method for the individualized adaptation of the shape of components includes providing a basic material for producing the components. Next at least one unifying production method is selected. The components are then produced with a geometrically identical base shape by the unifying production method. Then at least one individualizing production method is selected. Then the shape of the components is adapted to at least two different final shapes by the individualizing production method that is different from the unifying production method. The final shape of each component differs from its basic shape.

A method for the individualized adaptation of the shape of components includes providing a basic material for producing the components. Next at least one unifying production method is selected. The components are then produced with a geometrically identical base shape by the unifying production method. Then at least one individualizing production method is selected. Then the shape of the components is adapted to at least two different final shapes by the individualizing production method that is different from the unifying production method. The final shape of each component differs from its basic shape.

A single action draw press and a draw die set for the single action draw are disclosed. The single action draw press and die include a bolster and a stationary punch. A cushion is assembled to the bolster to support a binder ring that is adapted to be engaged by a die attached to a press ram. The die is reciprocated by the press ram relative to the bolster while a mechanical lock engages the die and the binder ring. The die contacts the binder ring and a mechanical lock secures the die and binder ring together while the die draws a panel over the stationary punch.

A method includes two or more reference strain gradient information being a relationship between the strain at the hole edge and a strain gradient along a radial direction. Hole expansion forming is performed on the evaluation metal sheet under the same forming conditions as respective forming conditions corresponding to at least two pieces of the reference strain gradient information to obtain at least two limit hole expansion ratios at a hole expansion limit of the evaluation metal sheet. A formable region of the evaluation metal sheet is obtained from the at least two pieces of the reference strain gradient information and the obtained at least two limit hole expansion ratios at the hole expansion limit. Stretch flange cracking at the sheared end face of the evaluation metal sheet is evaluated by the obtained formable region.

A method includes two or more reference strain gradient information being a relationship between the strain at the hole edge and a strain gradient along a radial direction. Hole expansion forming is performed on the evaluation metal sheet under the same forming conditions as respective forming conditions corresponding to at least two pieces of the reference strain gradient information to obtain at least two limit hole expansion ratios at a hole expansion limit of the evaluation metal sheet. A formable region of the evaluation metal sheet is obtained from the at least two pieces of the reference strain gradient information and the obtained at least two limit hole expansion ratios at the hole expansion limit. Stretch flange cracking at the sheared end face of the evaluation metal sheet is evaluated by the obtained formable region.

A tool for forming a shaped product has a support body that is fabricated from a first material, such as for instance cast iron. The first material defines a first portion of a forming surface of the tool and has a feature supported thereon. The feature has a layer of a second material that is supported on the first material of the support body, a layer of a third material that is supported on the layer of the second material and a layer of a fourth material that is supported on the layer of the third material. The layer of the fourth material, such as for instance a tool steel alloy, defines a second portion of the forming surface of the tool. During use the first portion of the forming surface and the second portion of the forming surface cooperate to form a desired shape of the shaped product.

A tool for forming a shaped product has a support body that is fabricated from a first material, such as for instance cast iron. The first material defines a first portion of a forming surface of the tool and has a feature supported thereon. The feature has a layer of a second material that is supported on the first material of the support body, a layer of a third material that is supported on the layer of the second material and a layer of a fourth material that is supported on the layer of the third material. The layer of the fourth material, such as for instance a tool steel alloy, defines a second portion of the forming surface of the tool. During use the first portion of the forming surface and the second portion of the forming surface cooperate to form a desired shape of the shaped product.

A web jam detector and associated method are provided for detecting a jam of feedstock material in a scrap chopper. A web detection bar, mounted to the scrap chopper, includes a plurality of web detection fingers. The plurality of web detection fingers are made of an electrically conductive material, are electrically connected to and extend outwardly from the web detection bar, and are positioned to contact the feedstock material when the scrap chopper is in a closed position. A web jam detection circuit is electrically connected to the web detection bar. In operation, the web jam detection circuit supplies direct current electricity to the web detection bar and generates feedback signals based on a voltage of the web detection bar. The feedback signals are indicative of the presence or absence of the feedstock material at the plurality of web detection fingers.

A blank shape determining method includes: a process of making a forming analysis of forming a reference blank into a reference formed product and a acquiring sheet thickness distribution and a plastic strain distribution; a process of acquiring a forming failure evaluation index for the reference blank; a process of estimating a region, which includes an end edge portion at which the forming failure evaluation index exceeds a predetermined threshold, within the reference blank as a forming failure region; a process of generating a plurality of corrected blanks; a process of making a forming analysis of forming the corrected blanks into corrected formed products and acquiring a sheet thickness distribution and a plastic strain distribution; a process of acquiring the forming failure evaluation index for the corrected formed product; and a process of determining a shape of the corrected blank having a smallest maximum value of the forming failure evaluation index as a shape of a blank provided for press forming.