An Integrated Approach in Design Tooling, Setting Up and Timing of Forging Transfer-Machines

Multi-station forging machines with automatic work transfer between stations permit very high production rates to be reached, but considerable time and effort by skilled personnel must be spent in workplanning and their setting up and timing. The paper presents an integrated approach to the computer-assisted design of the tooling systems and identification of appropriate setting conditions and timing for multi-station presses to be used in cold, warm and hot forging. The approach is based on (i) the classification of possible configurations of punch- and die-side tool subassemblies, (ii) the automatic retrieval of the tool-holder assembly configuration for the specific station of the press, (iii) the assembly rules and automatic scaling and fitting of individual tool components and (iv) the animation -with check for interference- of die, punches, slugs, grippers and ejectors according to the kinematic model of the press.