CTK CAD - Technik GmbH becomes AutoForm Engineering's One Hundredth Customer in Germany

AutoForm Engineering Deutschland GmbH, a leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has announced that its 100th customer is CTK CAD - Technik GmbH. With AutoForm software, CTK’s competence is strengthened, enabling them to provide their customers with a new level of service.

Since its opening in Dortmund in 1996, AutoForm Engineering Deutschland GmbH has grown continuously, offering innovative technological solutions and best-in-class support to well-known automotive OEMs and leading suppliers of tooling, stampings and material in Germany. With Audi as its first customer, over the past 15 years AutoForm has become the software of choice for many other companies, such as Daimler, Ford, Opel, Porsche, Volkswagen, Allgaier, Schuler Cartec and ThyssenKrupp Steel. In order to better serve its customers and enable them to work in close collaboration with its highly qualified specialists, AutoForm has expanded its presence in South Germany, an area where the German automotive industry is highly concentrated, by opening 2 additional offices, one in Pfaffenhofen in 2003 and another in Ravensburg in 2008. Accordingly, the number of customers has grown continuously in Germany and has just reached the number 100 mark. This prestigious customer number belongs to CTK CAD - Technik GmbH, an engineering service provider which supports many automotive manufacturers and their suppliers worldwide. Its experience ranges from prototypes to serial production and it is equipped with the latest CAD systems, CATIA V4 and V5.

Markus Hafner, member of the Executive Board at CTK CAD - Technik GmbH, stated: "After considering several software solutions which are currently offered on the market for the die-making and sheet metal forming industries, we have selected AutoForm software. We are particularly impressed by the value which this software generates to our business in relation to its costs. Through AutoForm’s technology, expertise and know-how in the sheet metal stamping field, we are able to strengthen our competence and provide a new level of service to our customers."

Christof Stech, General Manager of AutoForm Engineering Deutschland GmbH, adds: "We are pleased that CTK CAD - Technik GmbH has chosen AutoForm software and at the same time that one hundred of customers have done the same. This motivates us to continue to support our customers in achieving outstanding results and to provide optimal customer care and assistance in the German speaking market."

Efficient Simulation of Hot Forming and Quenching Processes

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has successfully developed AutoForm-ThermoSolver, an innovative software for efficient simulation of hot forming and quenching processes. With AutoForm-ThermoSolver, high strength components with challenging geometrical complexity and minimized springback effects can be engineered in shorter time and at lower cost.

Hot forming and quenching processes have recently become important for the automotive industry in order to meet specific requirements regarding a higher level of crash safety and a reduction of overall weight. The components produced by hot forming and quenching are characterized by high strengths, complex shapes if required and reduced springback effects.

AutoForm-ThermoSolver features several innovations. This software supports direct and indirect hot forming and in addition, takes into account heat flux and phase transformation during quenching. It offers engineers better insight into the structural transformation of material as well as enables them to have better control over it. The supported tailored tempering process allows for the engineering of stamped parts with targeted local strength properties. Based on the results of AutoForm-ThermoSolver, crash simulation accuracy can be improved by taking the real strength distribution of the hot-formed component into account.

With AutoForm-ThermoSolver, car manufacturers and suppliers can reliably design and engineer the processes of hot-stamped parts for their new vehicles, such as A- and B-pillars, tunnels, front and rear bumper beams, side rail members, door beams or roof rails.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “We are pleased to present our new software, AutoForm-ThermoSolver, which enables users to realistically simulate hot forming and quenching processes. With AutoForm-ThermoSolver, engineers can take advantage of the tailored part strengths achieved through these innovative processes.”

AutoForm Engineering GmbH unveils AutoFormplus R3

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has unveiled the latest software version AutoFormplus R3. This release excels at a new level of accuracy and speed. Superior performance in parallel computing enables users to take advantage of high speed-up factors on multi-cores, which now require fewer solver licenses. Moreover, AutoFormplus R3 contains new functionalities for hot forming and heating and helps users prevent springback in a systematic way.

AutoFormplus R3 is the third major release of the new product line AutoFormplus. AutoForm’s intense focus on accurate results and short computation times has led to this release which incorporates several innovative features. The main one offers predefined control parameter settings for the different stages in the engineering workflow. The three different control parameter settings – Concept Evaluation (CE), Advanced Concept Evaluation (CE+) and Final Validation (FV) – are aligned so as to minimize differences when switching from one setting to the next. This new concept prevents over-engineering and ensures the user the right accuracy at the right time. As a result, the efficiency of the engineering process can be significantly increased.

AutoFormplus R3 offers more options in the parallel computing field. The shared memory multiprocessing (SMP) solver version is now available not only for 2 and 4 cores but also for 3 and 8. At the same time, the number of licenses needed to perform parallel execution has been reduced, offering the user the advantage of multiprocessing at lower cost.

In addition, AutoFormplus R3 enables the realistic simulation of hot forming and quenching processes, takes into account innovative heat treatment processes which are applied when stamping certain lightweight materials and supports the user in systematically preventing springback.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “We are pleased to offer our customers a new and powerful set of features. With AutoFormplus R3, our users can count on increased efficiency of the engineering process, lower cost for parallel computing on multi-cores, improved crash simulation accuracy for hot-formed components and efficient springback prevention. AutoFormplus R3 will be available on the market in June.”

AutoForm Opens a New Subsidiary Office in Brazil and Appoints a New General Manager in Germany

AutoForm Engineering, a leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has opened a new subsidiary office in Brazil. This office will focus on serving the Brazilian market, offering the full range of AutoForm products and services. In addition, AutoForm has appointed a new General Manager for its office in Germany.

AutoForm do Brasil Ltda.: Brazil’s economy is booming and has become the largest in Latin America. AutoForm has recognized the importance of this economic expansion by establishing a new subsidiary office in São Bernardo do Campo, which is one of the most industrially developed regions in Brazil. Many automotive OEMs, such as Volkswagen, Ford, Scania, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, as well as their suppliers have already established their presence in São Bernardo do Campo. The new office is headed by Fábio Henrique Vieira, General Manager, who has extensive experience in the metal stamping field and knows the Brazilian market. He and his knowledgeable team will cooperate closely with Brazilian customers to strengthen AutoForm’s position in the Brazilian market.

A new General Manager in Germany: AutoForm has appointed a new General Manager, Christof Stech, for its office in Germany. Christof Stech joined AutoForm Engineering on February 1, with many years of experience in sales and general management. Throughout his career, he has worked for various well-known automotive suppliers and in his last position was responsible for the sales of entire Central European market. In his new position at AutoForm, Christof Stech will be responsible for driving the strategic growth of AutoForm Engineering Deutschland GmbH. He replaces Dr. Bart Carleer, who has been promoted to Corporate Technical Director for the AutoForm Group.

Dr. Volker Steininger, COO of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “We are delighted that we are able to expand our expertise in sheet metal forming and be actively present in Brazil, which is currently in an important phase of economic expansion. Our customers in this region can now benefit from our new experienced team located in São Bernardo do Campo. We are also delighted that Christof Stech has joined AutoForm Engineering in Germany in the position of General Manager. His extensive experience in business and management will further strengthen and expand AutoForm’s recognized position in the German market.”

AutoForm Opens a New Subsidiary Office in Brazil and Appoints a New General Manager in Germany

AutoForm Engineering, a supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has opened a new subsidiary office in Brazil. This office will focus on serving the Brazilian market, offering the full range of AutoForm products and services. In addition, AutoForm has appointed a new General Manager for its office in Germany.

AutoForm do Brasil Ltda.: Brazil's economy is booming and has become the largest in Latin America. AutoForm has recognized the importance of this economic expansion by establishing a new subsidiary office in São Bernardo do Campo, which is one of the most industrially developed regions in Brazil. Many automotive OEMs, such as Volkswagen, Ford, Scania, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, as well as their suppliers have already established their presence in São Bernardo do Campo. The new office is headed by Fábio Henrique Vieira, General Manager, who has extensive experience in the metal stamping field and knows the Brazilian market. He and his knowledgeable team will cooperate closely with Brazilian customers to strengthen AutoForm’s position in the Brazilian market.

A new General Manager in Germany: AutoForm has appointed a new General Manager, Christof Stech, for its office in Germany. Christof Stech joined AutoForm Engineering on February 1, with many years of experience in sales and general management. Throughout his career, he has worked for various well-known automotive suppliers and in his last position was responsible for the sales of entire Central European market. In his new position at AutoForm, Christof Stech will be responsible for driving the strategic growth of AutoForm Engineering Deutschland GmbH. He replaces Dr. Bart Carleer, who has been promoted to Corporate Technical Director for the AutoForm Group.

Dr. Volker Steininger, COO of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “We are delighted that we are able to expand our expertise in sheet metal forming and be actively present in Brazil, which is currently in an important phase of economic expansion. Our customers in this region can now benefit from our new experienced team located in São Bernardo do Campo. We are also delighted that Christof Stech has joined AutoForm Engineering in Germany in the position of General Manager. His extensive experience in business and management will further strengthen and expand AutoForm’s recognized position in the German market.”

EasyBlank Inventor – Analysis of Stamped Parts Embedded within Autodesk Inventor Software

AutoForm Engineering, a supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has announced the worldwide market introduction of EasyBlank Inventor. This add-on module for Autodesk Inventor software is specially designed for sheet metal part designers, tool and die designers, and tool cost calculators.

The latest AutoForm software product, EasyBlank Inventor, is embedded within the Autodesk Inventor mechanical design and engineering software environment. Autodesk Inventor software takes engineers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping by enabling them to design, visualize, and simulate products before they are ever built.

Using the well known AutoForm simulation technology, it rapidly calculates the developed blank outline from CAD part geometry. EasyBlank Inventor is also specialized for determining the optimal nesting layout while taking into account several important parameters such as coil width, pitch or required bridge span. Several types of nesting layouts are available to users. The material data base, which includes additional important parameters for the most commonly used materials in stamping, is already incorporated in EasyBlank Inventor. In addition to these innovative features, EasyBlank Inventor also enables users to assess product feasibility for the first time. Since cost reduction is ultimately required at every stage of product development, early feasibility assessment eliminates costly, late changes to part design and thereby enables the early optimization of material cost.

The analysis results are summarized in an HTML-based report which contains detailed information on blank outline, optimal nesting layout, material consumption and cost, thinning distribution of the part, feasibility plot and the associated FLD diagram. EasyBlank Inventor enables the easy and rapid creation of such reports, which facilitate internal communication and are useful for quotation purposes. The benefits for users are early cost and manufacturability analyses, optimal material usage and minimization of scrap and costs.

Chris Douglass, Senior Business Unit Manager, Autodesk Manufacturing Industry Group, stated: “EasyBlank Inventor is available to customers through our reseller network. The benefits of AutoForm simulation technology incorporated within EasyBlank Inventor are certainly attractive to our customers and we are glad that we can expand our technology in tool and die shops as well as in the stamping fields.”

“Due to its ease-of-use, EasyBlank Inventor fits perfectly into the Autodesk portfolio. The analysis of stamped parts is now embedded within the Autodesk Inventor environment, making it easily available to the broader audience”, added Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director at AutoForm.

AutoForm announces new project in collaboration with Volkswagen

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, a supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry and a member of the Dassault Systèmes software partner program, has announced a new project in collaboration with Volkswagen. The main goal of this project is to develop an advanced software product for die face design that enables users to rapidly create CAD quality die faces, which are required for CNC machining. The product under development is called AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA and will be available on the market in 2012.

Despite the widespread use of different CAD systems in engineering, such systems alone are not suited to fully and efficiently support all necessary stages of the sheet metal forming engineering process. This is particularly evident during the tool design stage, when a die layout for the complete sheet metal forming process has to be defined and validated. Both AutoForm and Volkswagen were interested in the development of a product tailored to the needs of process engineers. This product enables users to create CAD quality die faces in the CATIA environment while at the same time provides sophisticated functionalities for fast die face design. As a result, the two companies decided to combine their know-how and professional competence and began a new, three-year development project in 2009.

Volkswagen’s initiative was substantial for this successful joint project. Volkswagen started the project by offering its profound know-how in the tool design and application fields and by writing the general specifications. AutoForm as the software partner joined the project by providing its experience in process design, process simulation and analysis. The result of this joint project is a new product: AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA. In order to ensure that the new product covers the various needs of the automotive industry, AutoForm also collaborates with other OEMs such as Volvo. The first stage of the project has already been successfully completed with the delivery of a pre-release version of the new product. The collaboration between AutoForm and Volkswagen continues to evolve, and the finalized product is set to be available on the market in 2012.

AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA will bring tangible benefits to its users. It is fully integrated in the CATIA V5 environment and offers a new level of user friendliness and speed. The benefits further include company-wide standardization and transparency, data consistency, fast creation of CAD quality die faces, as well as valuable engineering process support by automatic update functions.

Ken Short, VP Strategy and Marketing, SIMULIA, Dassault Systèmes, stated: ”This project combines AutoForm’s expertise in sheet metal forming process simulation with the powerful design functionalities of CATIA V5. CATIA users will greatly benefit from AutoForm’s new product. It allows them to create the die layout, which includes not only deep drawing, but also all subsequent forming operations, without having to leave the CATIA environment. As a result, CATIA’s position in the tooling field will be strengthened.”

”Our joint projects are examples of how distinguished leaders in their respective fields can successfully combine and turn their know-how into substantial value. The most attractive benefits for our customers are the company-wide standardization in process engineering and a significant reduction in time needed to create CAD quality die faces, which can immediately be used for CNC machining. AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA is the result of an innovative, unique approach in process design and will greatly facilitate daily work in tool design departments globally”, added Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering.

AutoForm Engineering GmbH unveils AutoFormplus R2

Zurich : AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has unveiled the latest software version AutoFormplus R2. This release focuses primarily on superior speed performance. Apart from this extraordinary achievement, AutoFormplus R2 brings further powerful benefits to the users.

AutoFormplus R2 is the second major release of the new product line AutoFormplus. It is characterized by an outstanding speed performance, which is achieved as a result of the redesigned software architecture. When using elastic plastic shell elements and bending enhanced membrane elements, the speed of the solver is now increased by an average of 30% and 12%, respectively. This improvement in speed is made without compromising the accuracy of the results.

Deterministic parallel computing is another area in which AutoFormplus R2 excels with the latest results. The shared memory multiprocessing (SMP) solver version has been enhanced in order to deliver deterministic numerical results that do not depend on the number of used cores or processors. Computations with identical input data that use different numbers of parallel threads now lead to identical results. On average, speed-up factors of 1.6 and 2.4 are achieved for 2 and 4 threads, respectively. By combining the SMP option and increased solver speed, AutoFormplus R2 leads to outstanding results with an impressive speed-up factor of 3 compared to the previous version.

AutoFormplus R2 brings further new features and benefits, such as accurate material modeling for stainless steel 1.4301, refined drawbead model, addendum profile templates and option for hidden internal cost data. Further progress has also been made in springback compensation. As a result, the user can implement more advanced compensation strategies to address complex issues that arise in practice.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “We have always been focused on short computation times and accurate results. An example to illustrate our success in this respect: Running AutoFormplus R2 on today’s PC generation, which has an integrated quad-core processor and costs under 1000 €, enables one to simulate a B-pillar – including all operations and springback – in less than 5 minutes. Even more complex parts, such as a door inner, can be simulated in less than 2.5 hours. This remarkable speed adds tangible benefit to our customers. AutoFormplus R2 will be available on the market in June.”

Stamping Simulation with AutoForm Cuts the Number of Correction Loops in Half

AutoForm Engineering Deutschland GmbH, on a project in collaboration with Schuler Cartec GmbH & Co. KG, has demonstrated how to successfully apply springback compensation on a routine task. Springback simulation has achieved such good results that its implementation in industry is beyond question. Springback compensation is the next logical step. Both companies worked together analyzing a tricky side member for Daimler’s E-Class model.

With its curved shape in all three axial directions, the side member is a complex stamping part. Bent flanges add additional stresses to the part and numerous add-on parts demand a high level of accuracy. The part is made of ZStE 340 which is a high strength, widely-used but challenging material. What is remarkable about this part is that not only one, but three operations are individually compensated, which therefore increases its complexity. In addition, there are tolerance bands, to some extent single-sided, which are only some tenths of a millimeter.

Using AutoForm Tooling and Tryout Solution, Schuler Cartec validates the process layout and the draw die design, carries out a trim analysis and optimizes trim lines. AutoForm Engineering broadens the analysis. After the springback calculation has been made, the results are used to compensate the die faces with the help of AutoForm-Compensator. In the final validation stage, AutoForm-Sigma demonstrates the robustness of the forming process and springback under real manufacturing conditions, i.e. with variations of material and process parameters. The consideration of these parameters already during the design phase ensures a robust manufacturing process. This is how springback compensation leads to dimensionally stable parts. A great benefit is that the only possible expense up to this point is attributed to the simulation effort since production has not yet started.

Besides the robustness analysis by AutoForm-Sigma which considers inherent variations, AutoForm Engineering uses a sensitivity analysis to determine the influence of design parameters such as initial blank, binder force, friction coefficient and drawbeads. The influence of the first three parameters is unremarkable. Two drawbeads, however, show a high, locally limited influence regarding material failure. The effect of the two other drawbeads is similarly strong, but more extensive and in an unexpected area of a part. The simulation shows that these parameters have a great influence on the material failure. The new insight gained by using AutoForm software prevents unnecessary correction loops which represent serious costs in the tryout press.

The tryout phase in the tryout press begins after the manufacturing of tool components and tool assembly. The first correction loop is followed by the next one, however only after an additional compensation in particular areas was made. The results are convincing. Instead of the usual three to four correction loops, the dimensional specifications of the parts are achieved even after just two of them. Helmut Gründler, Assembly Manager and responsible for the tryout, experiences an immediate benefit. He explains: “Just a few years ago, I would have considered a part with such tolerance bands as not feasible. Today, we can produce such parts even when using challenging, modern materials.”

The increased software usage at the starting phase of this project, which included springback compensation and final validation of tools, has proven itself by demonstrating immediate benefits. In addition, a time savings of eight weeks is achieved.

AutoForm Engineering GmbH announces Hot Forming with AutoFormplus R1

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, a supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has successfully developed an innovative solution for hot forming simulation. AutoFormplus R1 supports direct and indirect hot forming as well as other processes which involve temperature or strain-rate dependent material.

Hot forming processes have recently become important for the automotive industry to meet specific requirements regarding a higher level of crash safety and a reduction of overall weight. Many automotive manufacturers use these processes to produce body structure components such as A and B-pillars, tunnels, front and rear bumper beams, door sills, door beams, side-rail parts, roof rails and roof frames. These components have the highest requirements regarding strength. The use of high strength steels in conventional stamping processes is difficult due to their reduced formability and strong tendency to springback. Hot forming technology can be used in order to overcome these limitations. Components are stamped in the soft stage at elevated temperatures and quenched after forming to achieve a martensitic structure resulting in a very high strength of 1500 MPa.

Hot forming is a temperature and time dependent process and therefore its simulation is obviously more complex compared to conventional stamping processes. AutoFormplus R1 has been enhanced to include thermo-mechanical processes, making it possible to simulate hot forming.

Dr. Waldemar Kubli, CEO of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “We are glad that our solution for hot forming brings a new set of benefits to our users. By applying our innovative technology, they can effectively simulate the hot forming process. Thus, components with high strength, high geometrical complexity and minimized springback effects can be produced in shorter time at lower cost. Despite the complexity of hot forming processes, AutoForm has succeeded in developing a hot forming solution which offers AutoForm users the level of user-friendliness they are accustomed to.”

AutoFormplus R1 features Real Pilot Modeling for Progressive Die Stamping

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, a supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has developed a new innovative function for progressive die stamping – AutoFormplus R1 provides a physical model for pilots. Pilots play an important role in progressive die stamping for strip positioning.

Metal stamping companies are faced with today's quickly changing and increasingly competitive market place, which demands a variety of innovative and high quality stamping products. At the same time, cost reduction and ever shorter delivery times are imperative. Progressive die stamping meets these requirements and is widely used in various industries, such as automotive, electronics and appliances.

Pilots play an important role in progressive die stamping – they fix the strip into an appropriate position and maintain control over the strip. In addition, they are essential for precise sheet positioning during toolclosing and drawing operations in transfer dies. In its constant efforts to provide users with the best solutions, AutoForm has developed a new physical model to simulate pilots. This model can realistically simulate the contact, separation, sliding and rotation of the sheet around the pilots. Pilots can be defined not only by their position but also by their dimensions, such as radius and height. This new function, already incorporated into AutoForm plus R1, brings a new level of accuracy to AutoForm users who work in the field of progressive die stamping.

Cost-Optimized Process Plan with AutoFormplus R1

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, a supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has developed a new software module which enables the rapid and transparent definition of cost-optimized process plans. AutoFormplus R1 users can rapidly evaluate different process alternatives and gain insight into related costs.

Cost-Optimized Process Plan: Three different process plan assumptions for the same part lead to different costs and quality levels. (Source: AutoForm Engineering)

The current economic situation is forcing the fast-to-market production of quality parts at a low total cost. AutoForm’s new and unique approach to define cost-optimized process plans meets this requirement. It ideally replaces the conventional approach by which process plans are determined based on experience and subjective judgments. Users can now systematically evaluate multiple process alternatives and rapidly identify a cost-optimized process plan. The immediate benefits for AutoFormplus R1 users are:

-Rapid generation of multiple process alternatives
-Rapid relative cost evaluation for process plan
-Minimization of material costs
-Easy and rapid creation of reports for comprehensible internal and external communication

Easy and rapid downstream use of process plans for the development of die faces in AutoForm-DieDesigner and process validation in AutoForm-Incrementalplus

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, stated: “Different production concepts for the manufacture of a particular part lead to different costs and quality levels. The newly developed process plan module in AutoFormplus R1 enables our users to rapidly evaluate different process alternatives and gain insight into related costs. As a result, users can define a cost-optimized process plan which ensures the production of quality parts at a low total cost.”

AutoForm Unveils AutoFormplus R1 – the First Release of the New Product Line AutoFormplus

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, announces the worldwide release of AutoFormplus R1. This is the first release of the already announced new product line AutoFormplus, which focuses primarily on the new solver technology. This release can be used with the graphical user interface of the current AutoForm version 4 technology. The innovations which this state-of-the-art technology offers are remarkable to AutoForm users.

The new product line AutoFormplus, which was announced by AutoForm in March, aims towards Comprehensive Digital Process Planning – a multidimensional approach which considers function and quality as well as lead time and cost. AutoFormplus R1, the first release of the new product line is now available on the market. The main highlights of this release are:

Advanced kinematic hardening model: In order to further improve springback simulation results, AutoForm has developed a material model which accurately describes the complex material behaviour at unloading. This model is completely compatible with current AutoForm material data widely available in industry.

Real pilot modelling: AutoFormplus R1 provides a model for physical pilots. Pilots play an important role in progressive die stamping for strip positioning and are essential for precise sheet positioning during gravity, closing and forming.

Hot forming: Hot forming is a temperature and time dependent process and its simulation is more complex compared to conventional sheet metal stamping. Despite this complexity, AutoForm has succeeded in developing a hot forming solution which offers AutoForm users the level of user-friendliness they are accustomed to.

Spring supported tools: AutoFormplus R1 permits the simulation of tools supported by gas and mechanical springs. As a result, AutoForm’s range of applications is extended for progressive dies and for various processes where the blank is temporarily supported.

Dr. Waldemar Kubli, CEO of AutoForm Engineering stated: “The new release is the first one in a complete chain of releases related to our new product line AutoFormplus. We are delighted that we can already now introduce our users to Comprehensive Digital Process Planning and its great potential in the sheet metal forming industry.”

AutoForm's EasyBlank Enhanced with Feasibility Assessment

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has announced a new enhanced version of EasyBlank. This new version provides a quick feasibility evaluation of the part that also includes a n FLD diagram. Users of EasyBlank can now check their product for stamping concerns and perform suitable countermeasures prior to tooling fabrication.

EasyBlank already delivers valuable features to the industry, including the ability to quickly calculate sheet metal part material consumption, thinning distribution of the part, blank outline and optimal nest layout, and now features a feasibility plot of the part and associated FLD diagram.

Early feasibility assessment eliminates costly and late changes to part design and enables an early optimization of material cost. Users can carry out and quickly assess several alternative design concepts, selecting the best one.

A focus on product feasibility minimizes later expensive product modifications and allows the users to release a product that has been designed with manufacturability in mind. An additional feature in this version is the ability to plot the forming limit diagram (FLD) as a part of the online purchased report. The FLD is used to assess the material failure, such as splits or wrinkles.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director at AutoForm, stated: “All EasyBlank users can benefit from this enhanced version. It enables meaningful feasibility assessments and allows users to minimize material costs and material usage related to the assessment and manufacturability of the product. Users can now reach the optimal balance between formability, design performance and manufacturing requirements.”

AutoForm Unveils New Software Release – AutoForm Version 4.2

Zurich, Switzerland: AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, has announced the worldwide release of AutoForm version 4.2. This version integrates process layout and tool cost calculation into the AutoForm product suite.

AutoForm version 4.2 is the first major release, which will be delivered with a Windows native solver. This release harmonizes process layout with geometry modelling and provides the following additional major enhancements:

* Accurate OneStep-based flange development: Besides geometrically-based flange development, the new version also offers physically-based flange development. This new option is enabled by using the OneStep solver technology and significantly improves the accuracy of trim lines. In addition, it allows the development of flanges with holes inside and the development of multiple flanges.

* More efficient springback compensation: Version 4.2 has an optimized algorithm, which is developed in order to increase surface quality and speed up springback compensation. It also contains new options to define the areas for compensation and manually control these areas.

* Import of various native CAD files: Within the AutoForm version 4.2, users can now also import the native files generated by CATIA V4, CATIA V5, Unigraphics NX, Pro/ENGINEER, I-DEAS and SolidWorks. There is no longer any need for data conversion and related risk of data quality loss. In addition, a specially developed export file format can be directly imported by Tebis.

* Hydroforming process – new stage concept definition: Increasing complex part geometries often requires the preform forming step after the bending and before the hydroforming process. Version 4.2 provides stage concept definition for the hydroforming process starting from bending and preforming to hydroforming. In addition, this version includes the definition of preforming tools. The new concept significantly improves the part quality, increases manufacturing efficiency and reduces the tool wear.

AutoForm version 4.2 with all of its enhancements will be delivered to the market in the beginning of November 2008.

About AutoForm Engineering GmbH
AutoForm offers software solutions for the die-making and sheet metal forming industries along the entire process chain. With over 200 employees, AutoForm is recognized as the leading provider of software for product manufacturability, tool and material cost calculation, die face design and virtual process optimization. All of the Top 20 automotive OEMs and most of their suppliers have selected AutoForm as their software of choice. Besides its headquarters in Zurich, AutoForm has offices in Germany, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, USA, Mexico, India, China, Japan and Korea. AutoForm is also present through its agents in more than 15 other countries. For detailed information please visit: www.autoform.com

Successful Contribution of AutoForm at Numisheet 2008

Successful Contribution of AutoForm at Numisheet 2008

AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry, successfully participated at the Numisheet 2008 conference in Interlaken, Switzerland from 1-5 September. The excellent benchmark results at the conference confirmed that AutoForm software is not only the acknowledged industry standard, but also widely used for academic and scientific studies. AutoForm was the most used software code for the Numisheet Benchmark Study.

The Numisheet conference was an excellent opportunity for both engineers and scientists to meet in person and to share their latest achievements in the field of numerical sheet metal forming. Summarizing the expertise of the participants, simulation of sheet metal forming processes has obviously reached a high level of accuracy. Today, this technology can be reliably used for springback calculation and its compensation in industrial applications.

The involvement of AutoForm was meaningful and marked an important contribution to the conference. The company actively participated in two benchmark studies: one on springback and drawbead modeling provided by Daimler and the other on hot forming processes provided by AUDI. The submitted results clearly indicated that AutoForm was the most used software code. AutoForm showed excellent results in both benchmarks and held top positions among the used software codes.

AutoForm’s competitiveness and its high level of know-how and expertise were not only visible in the benchmark studies. Also the papers and presentations by AutoForm experts on the topics of process planning, cost calculation, springback and hot forming aroused great interest among the audience. In addition to these commitments, AutoForm was also one of the main sponsors along with Daimler and ThyssenKrupp Steel. The Numisheet 2008 conference once again confirmed that AutoForm is not only the acknowledged industry software, but also a widely used software for academic and scientific studies.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director at AutoForm, explains: “Our excellent results at the Numisheet conference clearly reflect AutoForm’s top position in the field of sheet metal forming simulation. We are pleased to see our high level of expertise and leading-edge technology acknowledged at a conference as prestigious as Numisheet.”



About Numisheet 2008
The 7th International Conference and Workshop on Numerical Simulation of 3D Sheet Forming Processes was organized by ETH Zurich and held on September 1-5, 2008 in Interlaken, Switzerland. The first part of the conference covered research and engineering advances in the field of numerical sheet-metal forming, where participants could present their recent developments and trends, new fields of research and new processes. The second part covered three benchmarks, where participants could present their results for well defined and experimentally controlled simulation tasks. The prestigious European car companies BMW, Daimler and AUDI provided benchmarks 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The conference was a great opportunity to compare state of the art simulations with carefully obtained experimental data. For detailed information please visit: www.numisheet2008.org

About AutoForm Engineering GmbH
AutoForm offers software solutions for the die-making and sheet metal forming industries along the entire process chain. With over 200 employees, AutoForm is recognized as the leading provider of software for product manufacturability, tool and material cost calculation, die face design and virtual process optimization. All of the Top 20 automotive OEMs and most of their suppliers have selected AutoForm as their software of choice. Besides its headquarters in Zurich, AutoForm has offices in Germany, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, USA, Mexico, India, China, Japan and Korea. AutoForm is also present through its agents in more than 15 other countries. For detailed information please visit: www.autoform.com