Valuation method for effects of hot stamping process parameters on product properties using hot forming simulator

Hot stamping is one of the hot forming processes for manufacturing products of lightweight construction such as lightweight vehicles. Knowledge on the characteristics of the hot stamping process is significant in designing and optimizing the process conditions, dies and tools; however, until now, the characteristics of this process, such as the relationships between a product property and die temperature and between a product property and cooling rate, and the springback amount, have not been clarified consistently or precisely. A new valuation method used to measure the effects of hot stamping conditions on product properties as a function of process parameters is proposed in this paper. This method utilizes a hot forming simulator, which is a precision press with feedback temperature control and controlled cooling, and permits to know the various characteristics of the hot stamping process. Here, the basic construction of the proposed method is presented, and its application to the characterization of the hot stamping process of high-strength steel sheets, such as an evaluation of the changes in product properties upon varying the forming conditions and process parameters, is shown and discussed.