Running Scared

Posted by stephens on May 27, 2010 in Cam Dies, Engineering Decisions | 0 comments

Here is a note from my long-time die guy pal Pete Ulintz. Y’all know Pete; he took over the Tooling by Design column I used to write in MetalForming magazine. I am sure most of you have heard Pete speak at PMA events or have visited his website ToolingByDesign.com. This is his note: Tim, I like your blog regarding restrike operations. I have another...

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Commodity Codes Suck

Posted by stephens on May 26, 2010 in Engineering Decisions, Rants | 2 comments

Why is it that, when I either process a stamping or setup a formability simulation for any company in any industry on any continent, I get some proprietary commodity code for a material specification from the customer? Commodity codes suck, and I will tell you why: they are completely useless. Every company that needs sheet steel to manufacture products buys the...

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Over-used Engineering Terms

Posted by stephens on May 24, 2010 in Engineering Decisions, Rants | 4 comments

Here is my Top 5 list of words that I feel are over-used in the die engineering community. In order, 1. Robust 2. Optimize 3. Checklist 4. Benchmark 5. Psychobeotch Yes, psychobeotch is all the rage. While hearing “robust” makes me taste vomit, “psychobeotch” gives me a Fatal Attraction...

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Another Strike

Posted by stephens on May 22, 2010 in Engineering Decisions, Rants | 5 comments

The discussion on the validity of restrike dies continues with a comment from Eric Kam that I would like to post here instead of comments due to length: It seems to me that the reason that the restrike is more appealing and rational than the trim line correction… by creating an adjustment point closer to the final destination (the conveyor belts and the...

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Strike the Restrike

Posted by stephens on May 18, 2010 in Engineering Decisions, Rants | 6 comments

It seems as though stampers that are running anything but 1008-1010 steel want restrike dies for flanges. This is flawed. Restrike, or spank, dies are intended to sharpen feature lines and plussed radii. Radii that is too sharp to be formed home in the draw or form operation. Somewhere along the way, it became acceptable then fashionable to use restrike...

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Light Cars. Heavy Dies

Posted by stephens on May 14, 2010 in Engineering Decisions, Events, Rants | 2 comments

Dan Grieshaber gave a presentation titled Lightweighting Automotive Body: Enablers and Manufacturing Challenges at the Great Designs in Steel 2010 event. As I have mentioned before, I genuinely thought Dan did a fabulous job of presenting. His slide presentation was generally good. He spoke freely without notes or a script. Dan was relaxed and knew his topic...

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Great Steel Design Problems

Posted by stephens on May 11, 2010 in Events, Rants | 4 comments

Before I start blogging on the takeaways I got from individual presentations at the Great Designs in Steel 2010 event last week, I would first like to share some high level thoughts on the topic. The overall theme was this: future automobile designs must be stronger for Federal safety requirements and lighter to meet CAFE demands. To meet these objectives and...

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Good to See My Faithful Friends

Posted by stephens on May 5, 2010 in Events | 6 comments

Today was the annual Great Designs in Steel 2010 event. I have much to say about this day long event in a day or two … It was fun seeing my faithful friends and fans of my former MetalForming magazine column and this blog. I genuinely had a great time chatting with everyone. In particular, I have been thinking of my old pal Gary. Much to my surprise, he...

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Have A Drink On Me

Posted by stephens on May 4, 2010 in Events, Tips & Techniques | 2 comments

Today is Cinco de Mayo Eve – like New Year’s Eve. The weather in the midwest is fabulous. I have visions of double vision. Laying back in a lounge chair with a drink in my hand; soaking up the sun. If you are working way too hard or are having a difficult time focusing on work because you have been working too hard, then have a drink on me. Tell your...

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Solids Works

Posted by stephens on May 1, 2010 in Automated Transactions, Tips & Techniques | 6 comments

I have been experimenting, developing, testing, and using solid modeling technology since 1989. If you are not using parametric and associative solid modeling to engineer dies, then you are not really playing at the same level in the same game as the rest of us. An acquaintance of mine, Ray Proeber, is a huge solid modeling evangelist for die design. Check out...

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