FE simulation of the blanking of electrically heated engineering materials

The blanking of electrically heated engineering materials is simulated using the commercially available software, ABAQUS: the temperature distribution, the “thermal” punch force and the blanking force for different heating conditions are investigated. Electrical heating provides an advantageous temperature distribution in the shear-zone of the material, which substantially reduces the maximum punch force and enables blanking with larger aspect ratios. Electrical heating can be achieved at a sufficiently rapid heating rate, is flexible with reference to setting conditions and may be easily incorporated into a blanking tool system, thus promising scope for application in an industrial environment.