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Abstract
To date, the modelling of crack formation during the ejection stage in powder metallurgy die compaction processes has fallen outside the scope of conventional finite element studies on this process. In this paper, we attempt to make an exploratory step in this regard by presenting a case study that exemplifies how crack simulations can be harnessed to solve real powder metallurgy manufacturing problems. The part subjected to the study is a multilevel adapter whose design to production process proved problematic to the manufacturer, to the point that simplifications in the geometry of the part were to be made. The goal here is, through finite element simulations, to clarify the reasons behind the difficulties in ejecting free crack compacts, to understand the connection of such difficulties with the geometry modifications introduced in the design and to make recommendations on the prevention of similar problems in other situations.
The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Catalan Government Research Department are gratefully acknowledged for financial support under grant nos. BIA2008-00411 and 2009 SGR 1510 respectively. The authors wish to thank AMES S.A. for supporting the experimental part of this research; a special debt of gratitude is owed to E. Sánchez and J. L. Celeiro for their endless patience in helping the authors understand the intricacies of CNC press machines.
Notes
† In practice, this tooling arrangement with an independently movable LOP-II was not tested due to equipment limitations.