Multi Draw Radius Die Design for Increases in Limiting Drawing Ratio

As a major sheet metal process for fabricating cup or box shapes, the deep drawing process is commonly applied in various industrial fields, such as those involving the manufacture of household utensils, medical equipment, electronics, and automobile parts. The limiting drawing ratio (LDR) is the main barrier to increasing the formability and production rate as well as to decrease production cost and time. In the present research, the multi draw radius (MDR) die was proposed to increase LDR. The finite element method (FEM) was used as a tool to illustrate the principle of MDR based on material flow. The results revealed that MDR die could reduce the non-axisymmetric material flow on flange and the asymmetry of the flange during the deep drawing process. Based on this material flow characteristic, the cup wall stretching and fracture could be delayed. Furthermore, the cup wall thicknesses of the deep drawn parts obtained by MDR die application were more uniform in each direction along the plane, at 45°, and at 90° to the rolling direction than those obtained by conventional die application. In the present research, a proper design for the MDR was suggested to achieve functionality of the MDR die as related to each direction along the plane, at 45°, and at 90° to the rolling direction. The larger draw radius positioned for at 45° to the rolling direction and the smaller draw radius positioned for along the plane and at 90° to the rolling direction were recommended. Therefore, by using proper MDR die application, the drawing ratio could be increased to be 2.75, an increase in LDR of approximately 22.22%.