Process parameter design of spring-back and spring-go in V-bending process using Taguchi technique

Bent parts of complex shapes with high precision are increasingly required. To achieve a high precision of parts, especially the required bending angle, a suitable design of process parameters is strictly considered. In this study, process parameters of bending angle, material thickness and punch radius were investigated. The finite element method (FEM), in association with the Taguchi and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques, was carried out to investigate the degree of importance of process parameters in V-bending process. The results revealed that the degree of importance of process parameters in V-bending process depended on the spring-back and spring-go. The material thickness has a major influence on the spring-back. In contrast, in the case of spring-go, the bending angle has a major influence and closely followed by the material thickness. In addition to predicting the degree of importance of process parameters by the combination of the FEM simulation, the Taguchi technique, and the ANOVA technique, by facilitating an improvement in the quality of the required bending angle was strictly considered by optimization of these process parameters corresponding with the spring-back and spring-go. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.