The production of carriage components made of magnesium alloys, e.g. AZ31, is getting more and more attention, due to the fact that the demand for lighter and therefore resource saving cars is rising. In the last 10 years magnesium proved itself as an engineering material, with a yearly increment of 15 %-20 % to the most growing substance groups [JUCH08].
With this background not only the application of light alloys as construction materials has increased but also the production requirements are getting remarkable and a multiplicity of technical challenges have to be mastered. The blanking process of magnesium sheets is a fundamental fabrication and technological problem which made new concepts and conditions of cutting necessary.
This research project regards conventional shear cutting, as well as the wedge-action cutting for use with magnesium alloys. Since forming properties of magnesium alloys are entirely different due to this hexagonal compact structure, and compared to known ductile materials steel and aluminium, these properties are in the focus. As a result of the limited ductility of magnesium sheet at ambient temperature, a tool independent heat concept has been developed and integrated into the different cutting processes.
The optimal cutting parameters were determined experimentally and by means of finite element analysis in an extensive experimental array. In further research both the corrosion behaviour and the cut surface topography have been verified. With this method, optimal process conditions can be acquired of magnesium sheets.
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The production of carriage components made of magnesium alloys, e.g. AZ31, is getting more and more attention, due to the fact that the demand for lighter and therefore resource saving cars is rising. In the last 10 years magnesium proved itself as an engineering material, with a yearly increment of 15 %-20 % to the most growing substance groups [JUCH08].
With this background not only the application of light alloys as construction materials has increased but also the production requirements ar...
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