Part Simulation and Modeling Improves Product Development, Trims Costs, and Shortens Overall Time-to-Market
HARTSVILLE, TN — FluidForming Americas is pleased to offer Finite Element Analysis (FEA) services. FluidForming’s FEA software accurately predicts how a product will react to real-world forces, mechanical stress, work hardening, material thinning and more. This analysis uses mathematical equations to predict — with a very high degree of accuracy — how well a component will form and function work in reality. Simulation for design engineers can be a powerful tool to provide directional insight and guide design decisions
Data sets may be exported so that the customers may perform in house analysis and dynamic testing of the designed part after forming; eliminating time, costs of multiple prototypes, catch problems sooner, do less rework and optimize part function/design.
“There’s no other process or machine on the market that can form metal with as much precision as FluidForming and our family of FormBalancer machines. With the added benefit of our FEA services, our new hydroforming technology has the potential to revolutionize how companies COST EFFECTIVELY iterate, develop, optimize and manufacture their products” said Paul Benny, President and CEO of FluidForming Americas. “Our process is the most collaborative in the metal forming industry.”
In most cases, FluidForming customers provide the company with a 3D CAD drawing of the desired part or component. Then, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Jurgen Pannock, will run the design through its FEA software to see how the component would respond to the FluidForming metal forming process.
“Any variations from the desired part are readily identified and quantified. This information is then shared with the customer and the customer’s engineers. Together we can improve forming and part performance with very low cost and tremendous savings in time. We’re able to virtually eliminate the ‘trial and error’ of most legacy metal forming methods such as die stamping, bladder forming, or metal spinning,” noted Pannock.
FluidForming’s use of FEA not only ensures that the best possible part is formed, but it saves costs throughout the part development process and reduces prototyping costs.
FluidForming’s extremely high hydroforming pressures (60,000 psi), nested tooling capabilities, fast operating cycle times, automatic roll feed with automatic die trimming, and its compatibility with challenging materials such as alloys and pre-finished and pre-painted surfaces make the FluidForming technology and process the most innovative on the market.
Furthermore, each machine in the FormBalancer lineup is compatible with 3D printed, metal sintered, steel, aluminum, and composite tools.
“FluidForming is the only Six Sigma metal forming process available and the implications of FluidForming on the future of the manufacturing industry profound. Ideas that were once deemed too costly, or impossible to metal form are a reality with our technology. Finite Element Analysis is just the icing on the cake,” said Benny.
About FluidForming Americas
Founded in Germany in 2000 and established in the United States 2014, FluidForming Americas services clients including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Miele, Sub-Zero, and other industry-leading manufacturers. FFA has a well-deserved reputation for innovation and a clear vision for the future. The company’s unique approach to sheet metal forming, tube forming, and rapid prototyping represents the first major advancement in metal forming in 60 years. The FluidForming process and technology have profound implications for manufacturing, manufacturing technologies, product design, and profitability. FluidForming Americas is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Nashville, in Hartsville, Tennessee.