Metal Formability

CASE HISTORY #1 Major Steel Producer Selects Interlaken For New Metal Formability Laboratory

CASE HISTORY #2 A Better Solution For Metal Formability Testing

ServoPress 150 System Overview

ServoPress

The ServoPress is Interlaken’s flagship product and the workhorse of this state of the art formability lab. This steel producer chose the Model 150. This is a 150,000 lb, computer-controlled, servo-hydraulic press that can run a variety of metal formability and lubricant ranking tests. There is a wide variety of tooling available including Drawbead Simulator, 2", 3.5" and 4" LDH, Marciniak Cup, Olson Cup, OSU Forming, OSU Friction, and Stretch Dome. The ServoPress Model 150 is capable of 150,000 lb clamp loads and a 115,000 lb. punch force.

90 Degree Bend Tester

An integral component to the formability lab is the Interlaken 90 Degree Bend Tester. The bend tester pulls a piece of metal over an interchangable draw bead radius. The drawbeads can be free rolling or fixed and can be heated to 400° F. The bend tester is able to run samples up to 2" wide and has a travel of 10" at forces up to 11,000 lbs.

Dent Tester

The Dent Tester is an important part of the steel producer’s formability testing. Its primary function is testing for dent resistance. A punch applies forces up to 1,100 lbs., speeds up to 100 inches/second and a punch travel of 2". A large work area of 10' by 12' enables the dent tester to accommodate full size automotive panels or sheet stock for testing.

Universal Test Machine

The Universal provides standard tensile properties on sample sizes up to 2" wide by 1" thick and can be run at forces up to 55,000 lbs.

Solution

First, they had discussions with their customers regarding what kind of information they would like supplied to them about the product they were buying. Then they researched the available testing options and decided to go with an Interlaken Technology Model 75 ServoPress with a limiting dome height (LDH) die set. The LDH test is a test that measures the formability qualities of a material by clamping a sample in place and pushing a two or four inch ball shaped tool into the sample until the sample ruptures. The height the sample fails at is monitored along with the force being exerted on the sample by the LDH tool. The maximum height achieved is the height at which the force drops off. This force and height information is saved for later analysis with the data acquisition system that comes as standard with the ServoPress.

Results

“Our testing program has given us significant formability information on the product we are producing. We can now recommend different types of steel for each customer’s unique application. This has allowed us to be able to better serve our customers needs and gives us a leg up on our competition. We are very confident about the results we get and our customers are happy that we are giving them good steel and good information.”

Interlaken offers a variety of tooling for the servo-press. T slots easily accommodate customer’s existing tooling. The ServoPress 150 offers high velocity (1000 inch per minute) punch speeds that can simulate mechanical press speeds. This high performance press is often used to evaluate the formability of strain rate sensitive materials.

• Test space accepts die sets up to 36.0" wide (30" between the guide posts) by 30" deep by 24" high
• System dimensions are 62" wide by 40" deep by 76" high
• Integrated die set design with T-slots in upper and lower bolsters
• Clamp - 150,000 lb total capacity
• 14 inch stroke
• Internally mounted position transducer
• Punch - 115,000 lbs total capacity
• 14 inch stroke
• Internally mounted position transducer

ServoPress 150 with Draw Bead Simulator

Tooling

• LDH - Limiting Dome Height
  2" and 4" diameter punches
• Marciniak Cup
• Olson Cup
• Ohio State University Forming
• Ohio State University Friction
• Draw Bead Simulator
• Tensile Testing

Tensile Grips and Extensometer