Forming Technologies

 

Fields of Expertise

The Department Forming Technologies pursues a holistic approach to process development. Two research groups work closely together.

The group Forming Technologies analyzes forming manufacturing processes. The focus is on plastomechanics and tribological boundary conditions. All investigations are supported by extensive process simulations - FEM - and industry-oriented experiments. The knowledge gained in this way enables us to extend forming processes with regard to their forming limits, to optimize components with regard to their application behavior, to increase tool life and to use environmentally compatible lubricants. It is important to consider the process as a holistic system of material, lubricant, tool and machine. Only in this way can interactions be recognized and systematized.

The group Data-Driven Modelling in Manufacturing Engineering is a horizontal group dealing with the topic complex Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing Engineering. The research focus is on the analysis and optimization of different manufacturing processes on the basis of acquired data sets. We use methods from data science, such as machine learning using neural networks or support vector machines. With the help of these data-driven models, we are able to identify previously unknown cause-effect relationships in your processes and derive recommendations for action.

 

Services

© WZL/Winandy

The Department Forming Technologies offers process analysis and development as a service, whether as part of our Fineblanking Working Group, as a publicly funded research project or as a bilateral industrial project. In addition, our services in the field of materials and service life include the determination of sheet metal forming parameters, forming limit curves and time and fatigue strengths. We determine tribological parameters such as coefficients of friction and wear values with the aid of specially developed tribometers.

In the field of deformation analysis, we offer high-precision deformation and movement analyses, industrial 3D scanning technologies and optical deformation analysis. Our associated metallography has a wide range of analysis capabilities in the field of scanning electron microscopy - SEM, spark spectrometry - OES, electron backscatter diffraction analysis - EBSD, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy - EDX, and residual stress measurements. We also offer surface finishing with surface hammers and cutting edge preparation with brush polishing in the field of toolmaking and surface design.

Furthermore, in the field of digitalization and industry 4.0, we offer technology research, workshops and consulting services on sensor technology and data evaluation, IoT gateways with distributed ledgers - networking of machines - as well as data science and machine learning.