Prediction of dimensional errors in 3D complex shapes due to press elasticity

This paper presents an approach to predict dimensional errors in 3D complex shapes due to press geometry errors and elasticity. Using a press stiffness matrix formulation for the press deflections in forging operation, a quantitative relationship between forging die deviations and the press geometry errors and elastic deflections is developed, which is a function of the forging force, press stiffness and the spatial relationship between the forging dies and the press table. The stiffness matrix of a screw press is obtained using finite element analysis. To evaluate the effect of the press elasticity on dimensional errors of 3D components, a case study of forging for aerofoil shapes is carried out based on the results from physical modelling experiments. With the representative information of the tool shape and forging force data, numerical results of the forging die deviations as a source of dimensional errors for the aerofoil shape are obtained and evaluated. It is demonstrated that this approach is applicable to forging and other metal forming processes for complex shapes.