Optimization of mechanical crimping to assemble tubular components

The crimping process is used often in the assembly of tubular components. In this study, with the aid of the finite-element method (FEM), the mechanical crimping operation was evaluated and optimized for a specific application. The effect of various process variables, such as the geometry, alignment and stroke of the crimper and the friction at the crimper–tube interface were investigated. Thus, it was possible to optimize the process so that the effect of springback could be reduced and the assembly quality, as indicated by the pullout force, could be improved. The crimping process of a single-grooved rod with a tube was evaluated as a case study. Based on the FE simulations, it was possible to determine the optimum alignment and the optimum design for two types of crimper geometries.