The Investigation and Optimization of Process Parameters in Warm Deep Drawing of ASS304 Steel Using Box Behnken Design and Applying Temperature Gradient

Warm deep drawing of high specific strength materials has attracted more attention in automotive and aerospace industries. Optimization of process parameters is a very important task in deep drawing process to reduce the production costs. In this paper, four process parameters, namely temperature, blank holder force, punch corner radius and matrix cavity corner radius have been planned and utilized according to the Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology in gradient warm deep drawing process. Their effects have been investigated on thickness distribution limiting drawing ratio and maximum forming force at ambient temperature up to 300 °C on an austenitic stainless steel 304 sheet. The optimum setting of mentioned factors has been reported to minimize an objective function response targets individually and simultaneously. Results show that the optimum setting to simultaneously satisfy the response targets includes the blank holder force of about 2200 N, a punch corner radius equal to 7.5 mm, a matrix cavity corner radius near 5 mm and a temperature of about 160 °C.