Introduction
Over the last decade or so, there has been a massive initiative to reduce the weight of our automobiles while still retaining performance strengths. Special grades of advanced high strength steels have served us well in helping us to achieve this goal. However, as fuel prices escalate and global pollution increases, the need for stronger lighter weight materials has become necessary. Aluminum is one popular alternative to help us achieve these goals. This special abbreviated course will give the attendee a fundamental and critical understanding of the behavioral differences between steel and aluminum when conventional die forming is utilized.
Schedule
Session 1 : Tuesday, April 30th, 2024
Session 2 : Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
*Each session will go from 9AM – 11AM CST
Agenda
- Aluminum basics
- Typical automotive grades used.
- The aluminum sheet manufacturing process
- Aluminum sheet defects
- Drawing and stretching aluminum sheet
- Trimming and piercing aluminum sheet
- Edge stretching / flanging aluminum
- Spring back correction techniques
About the speaker
Art Hedrick is the owner of the training and consulting firm Dieology, located in Greenville, Michigan U.S.A. He is a journeyman tool and die maker with over 40 years of metalworking experience. Art currently serves as the Science of Forming columnist for MetalForming magazine®. Previously, he authored the “Die Science” column in The Stamping Journal® for over 23 years and has written numerous articles for The Fabricator.com®.
Art, a past instructor at General Motors University, has been the recipient of many training & education awards. He has held chairmen positions of stamping councils with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as well as Fabricators and Manufactures Association. Art has conducted over 300 stamping, product design, and tool and die related seminars for trade organizations and private companies. Currently he has over 175 clients in the auto, appliance, hardware, defense, electronics, space exploration and commodities industries. Art is active in metal stamping training and consulting world-wide.
