On tool stresses in cold heading of fasteners

In this investigation, attention was focused on the tool stresses that emerge during manufacturing of fasteners. These stresses were studied both experimentally and theoretically. The theoretical part comprised finite-element simulation. This simulation showed that the zone at the die insert profile radius is so heavily loaded that plastic deformation is initiated in this region. In the experimental part, the emerging strains were measured in the region close to the interface between the die insert and the stress ring. The correspondence is good between the theoretical and experimental strains in this region. In spite of this and although 20 fasteners were cold-forged, the die insert did not fracture. Forming at production facilities showed that the die insert cracked after 9080 parts were produced. The results obtained in this investigation and the test conducted at production facilities indicate that high cycle fatigue, and not monotonic rupture, is the main cause of tool fracture in practice. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.