The setup process of tubular hydroforming is basically similar to setup of normal sheet forming. The user may refer to the setting of sheet forming described in previous sections. Specialized setup options related to tubular hydroforming are provided in this section.
Create a new simulation. Select TUBE FORMING as simulation type from the drop-down list illustrated in Figure 8.2.116. Tube forming consists of four pages: FORMING, SPRINGBACK, CUTTING and SUPERPLASTIC FORMING, as shown in Figure 8.2.117.
Figure 8.2.116 Tube forming
Figure 8.2.117 Tube forming page
The user keys in initial blank thickness, following by clicking OK button to display the setup interface of tube forming.
Similar to those described in setup of sheet forming. The user may specify title and working coordination system. The interface is illustrated in Figure 8.2.118. Detailed description of the GENERAL page is provided in Section 8.2.3.
Figure 8.2.118 Interface of tubular hydroforming
This function allows the user to assign as part as tube. The user may click PART button to select a part from the Part List as tube. The interface is illustrated in Figure 8.2.119. The process of defining tube is similar to blank definition process described in previous section.
Figure 8.2.119 Tube definition
This function allows the user to assign parts as tools in hydroforming process. The interface of the tool definition is illustrated in Figure 8.2.120. For description of tool definition, refer to Section 8.2.4.4.
Figure 8.2.120 Tool Definition
This function allows the user to set process parameters for tubular hydroforming. The basic setting is similar to sheet hydroforming described in Section 8.2.6. For tubular hydroforming, the user may specify fluid flux to control fluid internal pressure. The setup interface is illustrated in Figure 8.2.121.
Figure 8.2.121 Hydroforming control parameters
The user needs to select VOLUME from the drop-down list in Hydro mech field.
NO FLUX: Allow the user to specify fluid flux vs. time curve to control internal fluid pressure. The dialog box is illustrated in Figure 8.2.122.
Figure 8.2.122 Fluid flux dialog box
CONSTANT: Define constant fluid flux. The user may key in a constant fluid flux in FLUID FLUX input data field.
TIME VARIABLE: Define time variable fluid flux. The user may click EDIT button to display the EDIT LOAD CURVE dialog box described in Chapter 12.
FLUID FLUX: Define flux of fluid.
DENSITY: Define density of fluid.
BULK: Defines bulk viscosity of fluid.