Multistage cup drawing of AISI 1040 graded medium carbon steel

Abstract

In this paper a new modified processing route, as an innovative approach, has been proposed for producing cylindrical cups from thicker circular blanks, like 12 mm thick and 60 mm diameter. Rolled strips of aluminium (Al)-killed AISI 1040 graded medium carbon steel in hardened and tempered condition was used as an alternative high strength material. The processing route mainly consisted of pre-forming of flat blanks to a little draw in shape, followed by multistage deep drawing accompanied with wall ironing held without blank-holders and with inter-stage stress relief annealing. Thus, evolution of different processing effects such as cup dimension and cup quality, wall thickness distribution profiles, drawability and ironability parameters, strain distribution profiles, spring back tendency of cups in terms of residual hoop stress distributions, and microstructures at cup wall zones, were obtained and discussed.