Comparative Study on Shearing Edge Quality Influence of the Change of Tool Geometry in Fine-Blanking for Non-homogeneous Materials

Excellent quality of shearing edge implies that a s mo oth cutting edge without tearing will be observed on the whole edge surface. Thi s is one of the most significant features of the Fine-blanking process. To achi eve such a superb blanking edge quality in fine-blanking, there actually involv es quite a large number of factors, such as blanking speed, processing material, product shape, lubrication and tool geometry, to be considered simultaneously d uring the operation. Nevertheless, the thorough investigations on different effe cts of those critical factors for different kinds of popular and applicable mate rial are rare and limited. Thus, the objective of this paper is mainly focused o n the study of the quality influence of tool geometry change in fine-blanking f or non-homogeneous materials. However, the most obvious change of the tool geo metry during the operation will be the essential variation of the nose radius of the punch. This is because the nose radius usually seriously deteriorates with the increasing service period in mass production which eventually causes the ent irely lose of the specific features of the fine-blanking process. Therefore, a tailor-made experimental study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the punch nose radius and the shearing edge quality, such as blanked edg e finish, burr height and die-roll height, during fine-blanking for different types of material. Five punches with each specified nose radius (Rp), 0.00 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.75 mm and 1.00 mm, and four kinds of blanking material ( Mil d steel SS400, Stainless steel AISI316L, Copper alloy UNSC16200 and Aluminium al loy AA6063 ) were employed throughout the study. Subsequently, features of the s heared edge surfaces and data of each experiment were observed and captured for further analysis in this research. Consequently, findings show that an increase of punch nose radius would produce a higher percentage of fracture of blanked ed ge and increase the amount of burr height. In overall comparison, it is found th at mild steel and copper alloy do provide better surface edge finish with higher percentage of sheared area and less burr height than that of stainless steel an d aluminium alloy.

Excellent quality of shearing edge implies that a s mo oth cutting edge without tearing will be observed on the whole edge surface. Thi s is one of the most significant features of the Fine-blanking process. To achi eve such a superb blanking edge quality in fine-blanking, there actually involv es quite a large number of factors, such as blanking speed, processing material, product shape, lubrication and tool geometry, to be considered simultaneously d uring the operation. Nevertheless, the thorough invest...