Metal Stamping Die CAD/CAM Technology Status
In recent years, the level of stamping dies in China has significantly advanced. Large stamping molds are now capable of producing single sets weighing over 50 tons. Mid-range car cover molds can also be manufactured domestically, showcasing the country's growing expertise in this field. Many domestic companies have developed multi-position progressive dies with an accuracy of 1–2 micrometers and a service life of approximately 200 million cycles. Additionally, precision dies with surface roughness as low as Ra 1.5μm, large-size (Φ-300mm) precision tools, and medium-thickness precision molds have reached high standards within China.
The development of CAD/CAM technology in mold design and manufacturing has been ongoing for over two decades. In 1984, the former Huazhong Institute of Technology and Wuhan 733 Factory jointly created the first self-developed die CAD/CAM system in China. By 1986, Huazhong Institute of Technology and Beijing Mould Factory completed the first blanking die CAD/CAM system in the country, while Shanghai Jiaotong University also launched its own cold die CAD/CAM system around the same time. From the 1990s onward, CAD/CAM technology became widely used in the automotive industry. The State Science and Technology Commission’s 863 Program supported the implementation of CIMS at Dongfeng Motor Corporation, with Huazhong University of Science and Technology providing technical support to develop an integrated system for automotive body and cover mold design, process planning, and manufacturing.
During this period, FAW and Chengfei Automotive Mold Center introduced workstations and CAD/CAM software, achieving substantial benefits in mold design and production. In 1997, FAW adopted computer simulation CAE software for sheet forming processes and began applying it in real production.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, CAD/CAM technology has become more widespread. Stamping die companies with sufficient capabilities now commonly use CAD/CAM systems, and key enterprises have also started to incorporate CAE into their workflows.
CAD/CAM technology is now widely recognized as a key factor in shortening the die design and manufacturing cycle, reducing costs, and improving product quality. During the "Eighth Five-Year Plan" and "Ninth Five-Year Plan" periods, many mold enterprises adopted computer graphics technology. The use of numerical control processing has also increased, with numerous CAD/CAM systems being introduced, including UGS’s Unigraphics, PTC’s Pro/Engineer, CV’s CADS5, DELCAM’s PowerMILL, HZS’s CRADE and space-E, Cimatron from Israel, and AutoCAD, CATIA from various countries. Specialized software such as Euclid-IS from France’s Marta-Daravision is also used in automotive and panel mold design.
Most domestic car cover mold manufacturers now rely on CAD/CAM technology. The design of DL diagrams and die structure diagrams has transitioned from manual drafting to 2D CAD, with many companies moving toward 3D modeling. General map production has largely replaced parts drawing production, and some mold manufacturers are exploring parametric design techniques.
In the area of press forming CAE software, Chinese institutions like Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jilin University, and Hunan University have developed advanced CAE software with independent intellectual property rights, which have been successfully applied in industrial settings, yielding significant economic returns.
Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology, when combined with traditional rapid tooling methods, enables the quick production of large-scale automobile panel molds. This approach addresses issues such as low-melting-point alloy molds relying on sample casting, low mold precision, and difficulties in prototype production. It allows for rapid tooling based on 3D CAD models, ensuring part accuracy and supporting the fast development and trial production of new automotive models.
In recent years, new rapid prototyping methods have emerged, such as moldless multi-point forming, laser shock, and electromagnetic forming, all of which have been applied in production. These technologies demonstrate cost reduction and efficiency improvements, marking significant progress in the automotive industry.
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