Pressline and Press Tool Simulation

Dr.-Ing. Stefan Linner, Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Wunsch

AnySIM Simulationssysteme GmbH, München

The focus of this presentation is the simulation of press lines. We want to show the benefits of press line simulation and mark the advantages for the engineering process of dies and press lines. The task of press line simulation are kinematic movements while putting in and taking out the parts and while closing the die. This is opposed to draw simulation which is based on FEM to show the deformation of the sheet metal.

The die simulation is based on the design of the tool in a 3D CAD system. The design engineer searches for the best draw position. The correct draw position of the sheet metal in relation to the press can be verified by a collision check in the simulation. The function of cam kinematics can also be checked. By closing the virtual die the cams are automatically moved.

In a second step the virtual die sets can be attached into a virtual press. So the whole pressline can be build up as an computer model, be simulated and optimized. The whole environment as feeder, orientation stations, handling robots, etc. can be included. The cooperation of all kinematic elements can be examined. The goal is to avoid collisions of the feeder devices or sheet metals with press or die parts.

A sweeping volume can be generated of the parts path and its 3D geometry. That volume effects the design of the die so it can be transfered back to the CAD system. Another aspect of press line simulation is the scrap simulation. The dimensioning of the scrap chutes can be optimized with virtual models of the scrap.

Keywords : simulation, transfer press, press lines, virtual die, collision detection, feeder