Experimental and finite element analysis of capabilities and limits of a combined pneumatic and mechanical deep-drawing process

In the last ten years various forming processes with working medium - like hydraulic counter-pressure deep drawing (also known as hydromechanical deep drawing) or hydroforming - are more and more used for different applications especially in the automotive industry. Recently another process was proposed: the so-called pneumomechanical deep drawing combines a preforming, which uses a gaseous working medium like air, carbon dioxide or nitrogen, with a deep drawing in the same, specially designed tool system. The paper presents research work on process and tools as well as on their application to sheet metal forming. Process capabilities and limits are analysed through forming experiments, strain measurements based on an optical system and through corresponding finite element calculations.