An investigation of Forming through using the new method of ball deep drawing and comparing its thickness distribution and forming force with the conventional deep drawing

Forming media in metal forming processes is so important. Since the forming media in Ball deepdrawing process is discrete, it is quite flexible. In this paper, thickness distribution and required force for forming of conical part by ball deep-drawing and conventional deep-drawing processes using finite element simulation and experimental stages were studied. In this research, sheets used were made from St14 steel and brass having 1mm thickness. The experimental results are in good agreement with simulation results. The results showed the sample formed by conventional deep-drawing process had more uniform thickness distribution than ball deepdrawing, but the maximum thinning in the parts of ball forming process was less than conventional deep-drawing process. Also, it was observed that required force for ball deep drawing process is more than the conventional deep-drawing process. It was observed that with increasing radius of the input die, the force required to stretch the ball deep-drawing and ball processes is decreased, and with increasing radius of the input die thinning amount is reduced. It was noted that one of the advantages of ball deep drawing process over traditional deep drawing process is that a negative slope part is achieved.