Papers by Author: Frank Vollertsen

Abstract: For a better process understanding of micro deep drawing processes and reliable prediction of component failure in FE simulations, it requires the most accurate knowledge of actual material behaviour. However, it is not sufficient to describe material failure for a multi axial stress state in deep drawing using a mechanical parameter as the elongation from tensile test. A forming limit diagram and a forming limit curve are more suited to describe the limit of formability under deep drawing stress state conditions. Methods like hydraulic or pneumatic bulge tests are available to determine forming limit curves even for thin metal foil materials. Nevertheless, using these methods only positive minor strains can be achieved. Especially for a deep drawing process negative minor strains and the left side of a forming limit diagram are more important. Therefore, in this study, experiments based on scaled Nakazima tests were performed to determine complete forming limit diagrams for different foil materials with a thickness range of 20 µm to 25 µm. Scaling the test setup improves the handling of thin specimens. Results with a higher local resolution and the specimens’ size is much closer to the actual size of a micro deep drawn component. Using this testing method forming limit diagrams for the materials Al99.5, E-Cu58, stainless austenitic nickel-chromium steel X5CrNi18-10 (1.4301 / AISI 304), all produced by rolling, and an Al-Zr-foil, produced by a PVD sputtering process, were determined for the micro range.

Abstract: Laser-chemical micro structuring offers a possibility to process particular metals nearly without any mechanical or thermal stress. The required electrolyte depends on the respective chemical composition of the specific metal. The presented results demonstrate the possibilities for laser-chemical machining of titanium, Stellite 21 and tool steel X110CrMoV82 for use in medical applications and micro tool manufacturing with respect to the engineering requirements. Furthermore, first results are shown depending on the identification of more environmentally friendly electrolytes to meet the everincreasing environmental and industrial standards.

Abstract: The ongoing trend of miniaturization makes hybrid joint also for the micro range necessary. Existing solutions often have restrictions due to the principle of joining. Therefore a new joining technology, which is realized by a plastic forming process based on TEA-CO₂-laser induced shock waves, is used at BIAS. This technology enables the joining of different sheet materials with thicknesses between 20 µm and 300 µm. The manufacturing of the joint is an incremental process where several laser induced shock waves are needed to form the undercut, which presents the joint itself. For the analysis of the incremental forming behavior of this process a 50 µm thick forming sheet of aluminum (Al99.5) is joined with a 100 µm thick stainless steel (1.4301) die sheet. The first ten laser pulses are leading to relative high induced strain while for forming of the undercut 200 laser pulses are needed. The incremental induced strain per laser pulse decreases exponentially with the amount of used laser pulses. This behavior is explained by the acting pressure distribution of the induced shock wave and the contact area.

Abstract: Many parts of today´s world are manufactured by cold forming operations or more precisely by mechanical upsetting such as wheelmounts or bevel gears because cold forming has several advantages compared to other machining operations. Due to size effects, the maximum achievable upset ratio in mechanical upsetting decreases with decreasing size of the work piece, so that upsetting becomes inefficient in micro range. Here, one promising approach is the laser rod end melting process generating a so called preform which allows upset ratios of several hundred within one stage. This preform is subsequently calibrated by a mechanical upsetting process. A numerical simulation showing the open die upsetting process of preforms, modeled with Abaqus, is presented in this work. Results of numerically determined natural strain are compared with an analytical model showing that the analytical model is a reasonable approximation. The maximum achievable average natural strain of preforms in upsetting is experimentally determined to be at least φ*=2.75.

Abstract: Due to an ongoing trend of function compaction miniaturization gets more and more important in industrial production. This makes hybrid joints under various conditions also in the micro range necessary. Existing joining solutions often have restrictions due to the principle of joining. Thus in this article a new high speed forming method for the micro range is shown, which is based on plastic deformation by laser induced shockwaves. First of all it is shown how metal sheet-sheet joints can be realized with this method. With the produced joints tensile tests are carried out, where a maximum shearing force of 26.7 N could be achieved. For a detailed process understanding, the near-field of the acting pressure of the TEA-CO₂-laser induced shockwaves is measured. Moreover it is determined that the ignition point of the TEA-CO₂-laser induced plasma out of aluminum is about 8 mm above the surface.

Abstract: Modern lightweight structures containing hybrid materials allow an improvement of the weight-specific properties. However, to exploit the potential as far as possible novel joint concepts are necessary, enabling an economic structure manufacturing. The DFG-researcher group Schwarz-Silber (FOR 1224) at the University of Bremen aims to explore and develop interface structures for advanced FRP-Al compounds. Considering textile, welding and casting techniques novel joint concepts are under development, in five interdisciplinary projects. Within their work the researcher group focuses on three concepts realizing the transition structures: the usage of wires (titanium), foils (titanium) and fibres (glass fibre) as transition elements between CFRP and aluminium. Typical examples for such hybrid structures can be found in products from the aerospace industry (e.g. hull segments), the car industry (e.g. CFRP roof structures), but also in general mechanical engineering (e.g. rotor blade elements). In this paper, the joint configuration based on titanium wires and a laser beam conduction welding process will be presented. As beam source a lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser (HL4006D) was used. First specimens obtained will be discussed with respect to their properties. It will be shown that the novel approach is in principle suitable to produce load-bearing CFRP-aluminium structures. The wire concept represents a parallel arrangement of miniaturized loop connections. It is characterized by joining a CF-Ti-textile to an aluminium sheet. A carbon fibre loop is threaded through a titanium wire loop by textile technologies on one side. On the side opposite to the CF, the titanium wire loops of the CF-Ti-textile are joined to an aluminium component by welding or casting. A double-sided laser beam heat conduction welding process was applied, for both concepts. During processing, the laser beam was travels along the aluminium edge. The titanium-aluminium structure is welded in two steps. During the first step (i.e. the first weld pass) the aluminium and titanium are heated by the defocused laser beam simultaneously on both sides. An aluminium melt pool is formed, supported by the action of gravity and a certain amount of pre-heating of the titanium-wire or the titanium-foils by the laser beam and by heat conduction through the aluminium melt pool. In the second, immediately subsequent step (i.e. the second weld pass), due to a pre-heating of the materials by the first pass and an increased heat transfer between both materials, a complete wetting of the titanium structures in the joining zone is achieved.

Abstract: Micro forming processes are very well suited for manufacturing of small metal parts in large quantities and micro deep drawing provides a great application potential for the manufacturing of parts with complex shapes. But size effects like changed tribology and material properties usually result in smaller process windows for micro forming operations. Process caused wear as well as large inaccuracy in manufacturing of micro forming tools is responsible for geometrical deviation of the tools from nominal size. Both influences can have essential impact on the process window size and process stability. A better understanding of the influence of tool geometry on process stability can help to improve and optimize process control in micro forming. In addition, a quantitative judgment of the impact of wear and manufacturing inaccuracy will be possible. Therefore, in this study, the impact of different tool geometries on the punch force in micro deep drawing was investigated. Significantly varied tool geometries were punch diameter, drawing gap, punch and drawing die radius and shape of the die edge. FEM simulations as well as experiments were used to determine tool geometry influence on the punch force of a micro deep drawing process. Hereby, it was possible to classify each geometry variation regarding its impact on the punch force and therefore on one important parameter of the process stability. Results show that the greatest impact on the punch force was caused by modifications of the punch diameter and variation of the drawing gap. Changes in punch or drawing die radii proved to be of minor importance.

Abstract: In macro forming a DLC-coating can increase durability and decrease wear of a deep drawing tool. Due to size effects, the behavior in micro range can differ from the behavior in macro range. To investigate durability and wear in micro deep drawing a blanking and deep drawing tool combination was developed, capable of maximum stroke rate of 200 parts per minute. Experiments with copper foil (E-Cu58) of 0.05 mm thickness were performed to produce cylindrical micro cups with a diameter of 1 mm using the lubricant Lubrimax Edel C. The tool material is stainless steel (German standard 1.2379). The punch has a diameter of 0.9 mm and the die diameter is 1.06 mm. To increase durability and decrease wear in micro deep drawing a DLC-coated tool is used. DLC-coated and uncoated tools are compared in long term test regarding wear behavior. Furthermore, the die radii of the tools are measured optically and cross-sections of the tools are made to analyze the microstructure. Experiments show, that the DLC-coating starts to delaminate during the first 5000 strokes. By analyzing the cross section it can be recognized a high density of scattered carbides and pores with different sizes up to 35 μm in the tool material are visible, causing delamination. Furthermore, higher load and stress in micro forming provides delamination. Thus a high influence on the durability of the DLC-coatings base material can be reported in micro range.

Abstract: In macro forming it is already known, that the punch velocity has an influence on the deep drawing process. This influence is considerably induced by the velocity dependent friction behavior between sample and tool. A further influence is the strain rate dependent forming behavior of the material. In micro range, the influence of punch velocity on the deep drawing process could, due to the size effects, be different from that in macro range, for example the spring back behavior. In this article the influence of punch velocity on the spring back behavior in micro deep drawing is investigated using strip drawing test with two different widths (1 mm and 2 mm). Experiments with aluminum strips with a thickness of 50 µm were performed with punch velocities ranged from 1 mm/s to 1000 mm/s. The strain behavior, which occurs with different punch velocities are investigated on the basis of microsections. The spring back of all samples was measured by an optical measurement system and compared with each other. From the reported work it can be concluded, that with increasing punch velocity the spring back of the complete system is increasing, while the spring back at cup wall stays constant. As reasons can be cited mass inertia effects due to the high velocities and the velocity dependent friction.

Abstract: Due to size effects new challenges are involved in micro deep drawing compared to macro deep drawing. One of these challenges is that the limit drawing ratio in micro deep drawing becomes smaller than that in macro forming, which limits the application potential of micro deep drawing in an industrial context. In order to extend the application possibilities of micro deep drawing, investigations were carried out on this topic. Own previous work showed that the “tribological effect”, the “global flow behaviour effect” and the “local flow behaviour effect” are responsible for the lower forming limit in the micro range. In this paper, the flow behavior of thin foils is further investigated. Forming limit diagrams of Al99.5 and E-Cu foils with different thicknesses ranging from 20 μm to 100 μm were acquired using an optical measurement system. It was found that the forming limit of thin foils is lower than that of thicker foils. Further analysis indicates that this difference is due to the number of grains in the direction of thickness of the material: more grains give more grain boundaries, which allows more strain of the grains.