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FOCUS ON CAD/CAM FOCUS ON CAD/CAM

A PASSION FOR By Dr. Jasmina Jovicevic,


AutoForm Group

SHEET METAL FORMING


Portuguese toolmaker, EPALFER, uses AutoForm software to help it
AutoForm’s software allows EPALFER to successfully
simulate the progressive die stamping process

investment in technology, software, the latest


Transfer die stamping at EPALFER with
AutoForm software

forming result. In addition, AutoForm software


deliver optimised tool designs for robust stamping processes. "In a competitive toolmaking market,
toolmakers must find efficient ways to
equipment and continuous staff development
are of the highest priority to us. AutoForm has
The rapid verification allows us to address stamping robustness
issues. With AutoForm-Sigma, we can develop
reduce overall lead time and costs, whilst of multiple new
proved to be the right partner for us to achieve the best part and tool designs for a robust
ensuring high tool and part quality” concepts for quality and
these goals,” he added. stamping process,” explained Eduardo Oliveira.
cost improvements, “During tryout, correctional work and
honoured with several prestigious awards, Efficient tool as well as the modifications are inevitable and every
such as PME excêlencia in 2015, Parceiro de production identification of complex correction loop that can be avoided offers an
Excêlencia in 2016, Parabéns líder in 2017 and In a competitive toolmaking market, immediate advantage in terms of time and
forming problems
Associado in 2018, for its achievements in toolmakers must find efficient ways to reduce cost savings. This is where AutoForm plays
Portugal. overall lead time and costs whilst ensuring
during the early phase a decisive role. In practice, one correction
Eduardo Oliveira, CEO of EPALFER, added: high tool and part quality. To do this, the of tool development, loop, depending upon the tooling die and its
“AutoForm software is an integral part of number of press tryouts and optimisation are very important. dimension, generally costs between 10,000
our daily business processes and supports loops, as well as the total lead time in the and 15,000 euros. So, imagine how much we
us throughout almost all of our departments tooling process, must be reduced. Therefore, can save every time we eliminate a correction
and in every new project. When our company tooling engineers look for the best solutions processes are carried out by experienced loop. With AutoForm software, we are able
was being formed, we looked for software to quickly and efficiently set up the entire EPALFER staff with modern equipment. to reach a new level of competitiveness and
which could address and solve the problems tooling process, make process modifications In the assembly department, experienced better serve our customers.”
which we faced daily, such as simulation- and evaluate different process layouts to and qualified toolmakers assemble single After the tool is finished and stamping
based process engineering, springback select the best one. The rapid verification of components to create high-quality tools. begins, the first parts must be checked before
compensation, trim line optimisation as well multiple new concepts for quality and cost Although these tools are very often complex, further stamping continues. EPALFER´s
Eduardo Oliveira, CEO of EPALFER,
and his partner at EPALFER, João Henriques as robust manufacturing. improvements, as well as the identification the toolmakers are able to assemble several metrology department is equipped with a
“Five years ago, after consulting for possible of complex forming problems during the tools at the same time. modern contact CMM and laser scan systems.
suppliers, we came across the announcement early phase of tool development, are very In the tryout department, all tools are tested

C
ar production and the current EPALFER develops, produces and tests of AutoForm’s event in Aveiro and decided important. The main goal is to increase the in mechanical presses under the working
automotive market pose challenges to tools for stamping. These tools are used for to attend. At the event, we received our reliability of stamping tools to achieve efficient conditions to which they would be exposed At EPALFER, tools are tested in mechanical
presses under the working conditions to
toolmakers as every single part of a new progressive die and transfer die stamping. first insights into AutoForm software and and reliable production or, in other words, during serial production. EPALFER experts which they would be exposed during
car requires a unique tool. Once the design of Advanced technology and equipment, functionalities. We also met AutoForm´s to find the best optimised tool designs for a examine critical areas on the part as well as serial production
a new part is finalised by the product design combined with experienced staff, have experts and software users and heard about robust stamping process. the measures to resolve these effectively and
department, it is released to the feasibility and driven the company´s continuous growth their experiences. After this event, we When EPALFER receives a customer’s the consequences on other areas of a part,
tooling departments, where an appropriate tool and consolidated its presence in the global decided to incorporate AutoForm software stamped part with the request to build a tool as a result. In general, during tryout, the tool
to produce the part is designed. With so many marketplace for automotive tooling. It has been in our engineering department. Continuous which can ensure smooth, reliable production, undergoes extensive fine tuning which is a
new auto plants and new vehicle designs being several departments are called to action. cost- and time-intensive step on the path to
launched faster than ever before, companies Each of these departments deals with the the successful production of a quality tool.
which make these tools must find effective customer´s needs at different stages of tool
ways to meet demands.
these production. The engineering department, Simulation-based
EPALFER, a modern Portuguese toolmaker, supported with AutoForm´s software, ensures tryout
attributes its success to AutoForm software. the engineering of manufacturable parts. In “AutoForm´s software allows us to carry out
Eduardo Oliveira, CEO at EPALFER, stated: the production department, milling and eroding simulation-based tryout. Should a problem
“With AutoForm software, we are able arise in tryout, we can identify the cause on
to successfully deal with complex part the computer and quickly ascertain which
geometries, modern materials, tight deadline measures have a positive influence on the
requirements and high quality demands.”

The tooling equation


EPALFER was founded as a small
independent toolmaker company in 2002
in Águeda, Portugal. With the successful
completion of several initial projects and a Left: Springback and springback
growing customer list, the company currently compensation with AutoForm software enables EPALFER
AutoForm software enables EPALFER’s experts to simulate to produce high-quality tools for the production of parts
employs over 70 staff members. and evaluate the entire forming process which meet high quality standards

56 | sheetmetalplus.com | ISMR April 2020 ISMR April 2020 | sheetmetalplus.com | 57


FOCUS ON CAD/CAM FOCUS ON CAD/CAM

A PASSION FOR By Dr. Jasmina Jovicevic,


AutoForm Group

SHEET METAL FORMING


Portuguese toolmaker, EPALFER, uses AutoForm software to help it
AutoForm’s software allows EPALFER to successfully
simulate the progressive die stamping process

investment in technology, software, the latest


Transfer die stamping at EPALFER with
AutoForm software

forming result. In addition, AutoForm software


deliver optimised tool designs for robust stamping processes. "In a competitive toolmaking market,
toolmakers must find efficient ways to
equipment and continuous staff development
are of the highest priority to us. AutoForm has
The rapid verification allows us to address stamping robustness
issues. With AutoForm-Sigma, we can develop
reduce overall lead time and costs, whilst of multiple new
proved to be the right partner for us to achieve the best part and tool designs for a robust
ensuring high tool and part quality” concepts for quality and
these goals,” he added. stamping process,” explained Eduardo Oliveira.
cost improvements, “During tryout, correctional work and
honoured with several prestigious awards, Efficient tool as well as the modifications are inevitable and every
such as PME excêlencia in 2015, Parceiro de production identification of complex correction loop that can be avoided offers an
Excêlencia in 2016, Parabéns líder in 2017 and In a competitive toolmaking market, immediate advantage in terms of time and
forming problems
Associado in 2018, for its achievements in toolmakers must find efficient ways to reduce cost savings. This is where AutoForm plays
Portugal. overall lead time and costs whilst ensuring
during the early phase a decisive role. In practice, one correction
Eduardo Oliveira, CEO of EPALFER, added: high tool and part quality. To do this, the of tool development, loop, depending upon the tooling die and its
“AutoForm software is an integral part of number of press tryouts and optimisation are very important. dimension, generally costs between 10,000
our daily business processes and supports loops, as well as the total lead time in the and 15,000 euros. So, imagine how much we
us throughout almost all of our departments tooling process, must be reduced. Therefore, can save every time we eliminate a correction
and in every new project. When our company tooling engineers look for the best solutions processes are carried out by experienced loop. With AutoForm software, we are able
was being formed, we looked for software to quickly and efficiently set up the entire EPALFER staff with modern equipment. to reach a new level of competitiveness and
which could address and solve the problems tooling process, make process modifications In the assembly department, experienced better serve our customers.”
which we faced daily, such as simulation- and evaluate different process layouts to and qualified toolmakers assemble single After the tool is finished and stamping
based process engineering, springback select the best one. The rapid verification of components to create high-quality tools. begins, the first parts must be checked before
compensation, trim line optimisation as well multiple new concepts for quality and cost Although these tools are very often complex, further stamping continues. EPALFER´s
Eduardo Oliveira, CEO of EPALFER,
and his partner at EPALFER, João Henriques as robust manufacturing. improvements, as well as the identification the toolmakers are able to assemble several metrology department is equipped with a
“Five years ago, after consulting for possible of complex forming problems during the tools at the same time. modern contact CMM and laser scan systems.
suppliers, we came across the announcement early phase of tool development, are very In the tryout department, all tools are tested

C
ar production and the current EPALFER develops, produces and tests of AutoForm’s event in Aveiro and decided important. The main goal is to increase the in mechanical presses under the working
automotive market pose challenges to tools for stamping. These tools are used for to attend. At the event, we received our reliability of stamping tools to achieve efficient conditions to which they would be exposed At EPALFER, tools are tested in mechanical
presses under the working conditions to
toolmakers as every single part of a new progressive die and transfer die stamping. first insights into AutoForm software and and reliable production or, in other words, during serial production. EPALFER experts which they would be exposed during
car requires a unique tool. Once the design of Advanced technology and equipment, functionalities. We also met AutoForm´s to find the best optimised tool designs for a examine critical areas on the part as well as serial production
a new part is finalised by the product design combined with experienced staff, have experts and software users and heard about robust stamping process. the measures to resolve these effectively and
department, it is released to the feasibility and driven the company´s continuous growth their experiences. After this event, we When EPALFER receives a customer’s the consequences on other areas of a part,
tooling departments, where an appropriate tool and consolidated its presence in the global decided to incorporate AutoForm software stamped part with the request to build a tool as a result. In general, during tryout, the tool
to produce the part is designed. With so many marketplace for automotive tooling. It has been in our engineering department. Continuous which can ensure smooth, reliable production, undergoes extensive fine tuning which is a
new auto plants and new vehicle designs being several departments are called to action. cost- and time-intensive step on the path to
launched faster than ever before, companies Each of these departments deals with the the successful production of a quality tool.
which make these tools must find effective customer´s needs at different stages of tool
ways to meet demands.
these production. The engineering department, Simulation-based
EPALFER, a modern Portuguese toolmaker, supported with AutoForm´s software, ensures tryout
attributes its success to AutoForm software. the engineering of manufacturable parts. In “AutoForm´s software allows us to carry out
Eduardo Oliveira, CEO at EPALFER, stated: the production department, milling and eroding simulation-based tryout. Should a problem
“With AutoForm software, we are able arise in tryout, we can identify the cause on
to successfully deal with complex part the computer and quickly ascertain which
geometries, modern materials, tight deadline measures have a positive influence on the
requirements and high quality demands.”

The tooling equation


EPALFER was founded as a small
independent toolmaker company in 2002
in Águeda, Portugal. With the successful
completion of several initial projects and a Left: Springback and springback
growing customer list, the company currently compensation with AutoForm software enables EPALFER
AutoForm software enables EPALFER’s experts to simulate to produce high-quality tools for the production of parts
employs over 70 staff members. and evaluate the entire forming process which meet high quality standards

56 | sheetmetalplus.com | ISMR April 2020 ISMR April 2020 | sheetmetalplus.com | 57


FOCUS ON CAD/CAM

One of our recent


projects has been the
creation of a virtual show
room through which our
existing customers will
have access to our
3D designs

EPALFER’s tooling department uses AutoForm software


to reduce the number of correction loops in tryout

Eduardo Oliveira added: “We check the others, and we look forward to extending our
part and test the capability and stability of the customer base further in the future.”
process with AutoForm software. After the He concluded: “By using AutoForm
part has been checked and the tool is ready, software, we are faster and more accurate
we send it to the customer. One of our recent than ever before. At the same time, we are
projects has been the creation of a virtual show able to save time and cost, which is of great
room through which our existing customers value for us as well as for our customers.
will have access to our 3D designs. Ultimately, we provide our customers with
"In general, our customers are OEMs as well the tools they need for immediate use in their
as tooling and stamping companies primarily serial production. With AutoForm software,
in Europe, the USA and South America. We we can solve potential stamping problems
are proud to be a reliable partner to Gestamp; earlier in the tool development cycle, saving
Through an efficient tool tryout, the tool shop can deal Kirchhoff Automotive; Kemmerich Metal more time and resources, which results in
with complex part geometry, ultra-high-strength steel Engineering; Flex-N-Gate; Grupo Segura; Muhr faster time-to-market for new car models,
materials and demands for high quality Metalltechnik; Silencor and Bosch, among with obvious advantages.” n

With AutoForm software, EPALFER’s specialists can


identify critical areas in the part and determine which
measures should be taken to resolve them

Above: AutoForm software enables EPALFER to select the process


parameters and tool geometry for robust stamping processes

CONTACT
For further details,
see www.autoform.com or
email the author at
jasmina.jovicevic@autoform.com

58 | sheetmetalplus.com | ISMR April 2020

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