Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a geometrical object for modeling the geometry of a metal sheet forming stage (1) in a CAD system. According to said method, an operator is defined which links a first geometrical model with a second geometrical model. The link is associated with a method for physically modeling a treating process which transfers a forming stage (1) from a corresponding first state into a second state. When the first geometrical model is modified, the second geometrical model is automatically updated in accordance with the physical modeling concept. The physical modeling concept for forming stages is thereby integrated into the static geometrical model environment of a CAD system. The physical modeling method is a method for calculating a border line (3) of a forming stage in an initial state prior to a forming process from a geometry of the border line (3) in a resulting state after the forming process.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the creation of addendums (4) of tools for sheet metal formed parts (2). In the case of this method, fill surfaces (7) for the smoothing of irregular zones of a component edge (3) are generated. Initial directions (31) of sectional profiles (10) are determined in such a manner, that sectional profiles (10) at a distance from one another are arranged along a component (3, 8) with utilization of these initial directions (31) and that an addendum (4) is creatable by the connection of these sectional profiles (10).

Abstract: In the computed-based analysis of forming processes, for example, manufacturing sheet metal parts for the automobile industry, the material loading is represented by major and minor strains ?I, ?II and is visualised with respect to a forming limit strain curve. In the method according to the invention, one proceeds from a target state (4n) of the material, as has been determined in the computed simulation of the forming process. A proportional trajectory of a loading and thus of the state variables of the material, in particular of the stresses (?), is determined, which leads to the same target state. The associated proportional strain trajectory is evaluated for this proportional loading trajectory. The strain state (4p) which results from this strain trajectory, is called the equivalent strain state (4p) and may be used in the forming limit strain diagram for assessing the target state.

Abstract: Processing steps are determined and optimized during the production of sheet metal forming parts, for example, by means of deep drawing/stretch forming processes. During the determination, by means of a computer-assisted design system, of process operations (PO1-PO6) for the description of forming processes on a forming part, the following steps are carried out: defining geometry models for the computerised description of a geometry of the forming part in a target state; defining several geometry operators (m1-m9, e1-e6), wherein one geometry operator (m1-m9, e1-e6) associates a geometry of an area of a first geometry model with a geometry of an area of a second geometry model, and the geometry operator (m1-m9, e1-e6) describes a transition from one of the two associated geometries to the other one; and defining several groups of respectively at least one geometry operator (m1-m9, e1-e6), wherein each one of the groups is respectively associated with a process operation (PO1-PO6).

Abstract: A method for computer-aided generation of tool parameters for tools for the manufacture of sheet-metal forming parts by way of forming processes, including the following steps: determining a set of geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) of a part (10) in a geometry model of the part (10); determining an associated method standard for each of the geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), wherein a method standard comprises at least one module, and a module represents a processing unit and describes which processing unit may be executed within a forming operation; determining components for each of the modules of the method standard, wherein these components describe the parts of tools which are required for realising the module; determining component parameters from geometric parameters of the geometry features (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), wherein the component parameters comprise geometric parameters of the components or of the respective tools.