In the Tools definition page, the user may add and remove tools, adjust position between blank and tools, define tool properties, working direction and contact between blank and tools. The interface is illustrated in Figure 8.3.49.
Figure 8.3.49 Tools definition page
TOOL LIST
The list of tool names is displayed in the box on left hand of Tools definition page. The indented tool name button indicates the tool is working tool. In Sheet Forming, default tools are set according to the selected process type. For example, if a Single Action process is chosen, default tools consist of die, punch and binder. Each basic parameter is set with default value, except for tool part, working direction, contact offset, etc. The user may directly define each tool from the menu page to save time for defining tools.
Note: Undefined tool is labeled in red. In each
setup, undefined parameters are labeled in red to remind the user that the
setup is incomplete.
ADD TOOL
The New button activate a function which allows the user to create a
new tool in current setup. The user may click New button to
switch the interface to the new tool interface illustrated in Figure 8.3.50.
Figure 8.3.50 New Tool interface
TOOL NAME
Allow the user to define a name
for current tool. Default tool name is tool1, tool2, tool3, etc. The user may
define a meaningful tool name for the current tool for the ease of identifying
each tool in the stamping simulation.
DEFAULT SETTING
Allows the user to set default settings for the current tool such as
working direction, offset, etc. There are two options in default setting. One
uses an existing tool as a reference, and the newly generated tool adopts the
basic parameters of the reference tool. The other sets the basic parameters of
the newly generated tool to default values.
USE SETTING OF TOOL: New tool adopts the basic
parameters of an existing tool. The user may select an existing tool from the
pull-down list.
USE SETTING OF GUIDE PIN: Uses the default parameters of a guide
pin to define a new tool. This tool does not have a working direction and the
contact type is set to *CONTACT_FORMING_NODES_TO_SURFACE.
USE DEFAULT SETTING: Uses default parameters to define
the new tool. The working direction of this tool is the LCS +W direction. Both contact offset and travel distance are
equal to 0.
APPLY
Enables the user to generate new
tool and list it in the tool list.
DELETE TOOL
This function allows the user to remove current tool from the setup. The user may select any tool from tool list as current tool, following by clicking the Delete button. The Delete Tool dialog box illustrated in Figure 8.3.51 is displayed. Click OK to delete the current tool, or Cancel to quit the operation.
Figure 8.3.51 Delete Tool dialog box
TOOL NAME
This function allows the user to modify the current tool name. When creating a tool, the user may arbitrarily assign a name for the tool. After the tool is generated, the user may edit the tool name listed in the Tools definition page. In the input field of Name, the user may key in a new tool name and press “Enter [CR]” to complete the operation.
Note: Each tool must have a unique name. If the newly created tool has the same name with an existing tool in the setup, a numeral will be appended to the new tool name, e.g. die 1, punch 1, etc.
TOOL GEOMETRY
This function allows the user to assign parts in the current tool. The
user may add one or more parts in the current tool. Click the Define geometry
button to display the Tool Preparation for Sheet Forming dialog box illustrated
in Figure 8.3.52. The user may add or delete the part of the
current tool, and copy element to the current tool. The user may also import
surface and mesh data to the current tool. Refer to Section 7.1 for detailed
description about tool preparation.
Figure 8.3.52 Tool preparation for formability
CREATE GUIDE/PIN: This
function allows the user to create a Guide and/or Pin. A new part for the Guide
is created and included as current tool. Default name of new Guide is Guide000,
Guide001, etc. For detailed descriptions of Guide and Pin, refer to Section 10.4.
Note: This button is only displayed when the user defines the tool type to use the settings of a Guide pin.
POSITION
This function enables the user to position the tool by entering the travel distance between the
tool and HOME, as shown in Figure 8.3.53. The Show geometry option
is used to show/hide the display of the current tool.
Figure
8.3.53 Tool
Positioning
WORKING DIRECTION
In each setup, a unique working direction for the tool must be defined. Working direction is the direction of tool traveling towards the blank.
Note: Working direction is a vector originating from the tool and pointing towards the blank. It is not the actual direction of tool travel. The vector can be pointing to the opposite direction of direction of tool travel. The interface of Working direction is illustrated in Figure 8.3.54.
Figure 8.3.54 Define Working Direction
DIRECTION: This function displays the working
direction of current tool as a vector. Default starting point of the vector is LCS
(0, 0, 0). The coordinate of the end point is also displayed in this box. The
User may click the button to modify the working direction using
the Direction definition dialog box illustrated in Figure 8.3.55.
Figure 8.3.55 Define Tool Working Direction
DIRECTION
This function allows the user to
determine a direction by vector definition. The origin of the vector is similar
to the origin of current coordinate system. The coordinate of the end point is
determined by the user.
- Define U coordinate for the
endpoint of vector.
- Define V coordinate for the
endpoint of vector.
- Define W coordinate for the
endpoint of vector.
REVERSE
This function allows the user to reverse the defined direction.
2-POINTS/NODES
This function allows the user to
select two points or nodes to define a direction.
3-POINTS/NODES NORMAL
This function allows the user to
select three points or nodes to define a direction. The defined direction is
perpendicular to the plane defined by the three selected points/nodes. The
direction follows the right hand rule.
ELEMENT
This function allows the user to
select an element. The normal direction of the selected element is the working
direction.
EXISTING LCS
This function allows the user to
select a coordinate axis from the defined LCS as the working direction. After clicking
this button, the dialog box illustrated in Figure 8.3.56 is displayed. The user proceeds to select the
desired LCS and direction for the working direction. If no LCS is defined in
the database, this button is disabled.
Figure 8.3.56 Existed LCS dialog box
MOVEMENT: This
function is used to displays the tool travel distance along the working
direction from the original tool position, after the positioning operation. If
a negative value is observed, the tool moves in the opposite direction of the
working direction. The user can directly enter a distance to adjust the tool
position.
CONTACT
This function allows the user to the define contact parameters between
the blank and each tool.
OFFSET: When defined tools
are copied from the die face, contact offset is required for corresponding
tools. For example, if the new punch is generated according to die face, an
offset value is required for the corresponding punch. The blank thickness is
used as the offset value. The user may change the value according to
requirement.
FRICTIONAL COEF.: Allows the
user to define the static friction coefficient between the tools and the blank.
The user may select different friction types from the drop down list and the
recommended friction coefficient will be given by the program automatically, or
the user may enter the specified friction coefficient in the textbox. It
enables the user to modify the default values of different friction types in
Setup->Friction through Option/Edit Default Config. There are five preset
options and User defined to allow the user to set the desired value.
Low =
0.05, low friction
Steel std = 0.125, steel standard friction
Steel high = 0.17, steel high friction
Alum std = 0.17, aluminium standard friction
Alum high = 0.2, aluminium high friction
User Defined
ADVANCED: Define
advanced parameters for the contact interface. A detailed description of
contact definition is available in Section 8.3.4.2 and the LS-DYNA Keyword
User’s Manual. In the Advanced dialog box, the user is allowed to define a
table to describe the relationship between dynamic friction coefficient and
relative velocity as well as press, as illustrated in Figure 8.3.57.
Figure 8.3.57 Function relationship
ASSOCIATION
This option is used to define contact between two tools. The user can
select tools which have contact relationship from the drop-down list. The slave
tool will move with the master tool when they contact with each other. The contact type of tools is *CONTACT_AUTOMATIC_SURFACE_TO_SURFACE.
The contact between tools is not defined by default.
POSITIONING
This function is used to control the initial
position of tooling and blank in the stamping simulation, relative to the
original position. This function includes both auto and manual positioning
illustrated in Figure 8.3.58. The user may select the checkbox of On option to
activate auto positioning. Alternatively, the user may key in travel distance
of the tool in the input box for Tools to perform manual positioning. After
entering the travel distance of blank and/or tools, the user clicks <ENTER>
key to update the position of blank and tools in display screen.
Figure 8.3.58 Tool Positioning
BLANK POSITION: The user may enter a value in the
input data field to position the blank. The user may also select a tool from
the drop-down list as reference for positioning of blank, and show the travel
distance of the blank relative to its original position. If the latter option
is chosen, the dropdown box of the On option for
the selected tool is disabled.
TOOLS MOVEMENT: All the defined tools are listed
in the Tools field. The user may define the initial position of tooling by
entering a value for each tool in the input data field. The combo box in the On
column allows the user to define already positioned reference tool or blank for
positioning of the active tool. The movement of the tool relative to its
original position is listed in input data field. Modification of this value is
prohibited.
Note: Auto positioning of tools and blank are carried out along the working direction. The user must specify working direction for each tool prior to performing auto-positioning.
GAP BETWEEN BLANK AND TOOL: The default gap is the thickness
of blank. The user may also set the corresponding gap according to
requirements. If Auto option is selected, the program will use the default gap
value.
GAP BETWEEN TOOLS: Allows the user to specify a fixed
distance between tools to start simulation. The default gap between tools is
IN NORMAL: Measures distance between tool
normal to the mesh, not along the working direction.
ROUND OFF: Selects this option to round the
auto-positioning values, otherwise, decimal format is kept.
RESET: Clears all the travel distances between tools
and blanks and resets to the initial position prior to positioning operation.
OK: Saves result of
positioning and exit the Positioning dialog box.
CANCEL: Exits the Positioning dialog box
without saving positioning result.
AUTO ASSIGN
This function is used to assign the parts with standard names as the
corresponding tools, such as Blank, Binder and Punch. It is recommended not to
use this function in multistage analysis.
AUTO ASSIGN
This function is used to assign the parts with standard names as the
corresponding tools, such as Blank, Binder and Punch. It is recommended not to
use this function in multi-stage analysis.