Increasing Repeatability in Stamping Operations Through On-Plant Experimentation

Owing to the complexities inherent in Stamping Operations, the research aimed at developing a better understanding of Stamping Operations, particularly within the Automotive Industry, has taken many different approaches with varying degrees of success. This paper focuses on the Black Box approach where it is accepted that the application of deformation theory governing the process to complex parts are not fully understood, merely that the process is a medium governing the interaction between the inputs and outputs of the process.

A series of Factorial Design of Experiments were conducted on a large structural component of a current model automobile which had in the past shown itself to be relatively difficult to manufacture. Initial experiments showed that there were a number of key process variables which affected the process and further experimentation with these variables in particular yielded information enabling alterations to the way the process was operating in order to improve part quality and repeatability.