The ironing process is a precision metal forming process by which dimensional accuracy of the product is precisely controlled. The ironing process is carried out usually in cold condition and often multi-passes are imployed instead of a single-pass process.
The objective of the present study is to analyze single-pass and multi-pass ironing by the rigid-plastic finite element method and to find proper design parameters and optimal design conditions for the ironing process. In the present study the semi-cone angle of the die and pass number are taken as process parameters in the design of the process. In the present analysis the forming load, stress and strain distributions and grid distortion are determined both for single-pass ironing and multi-pass ironing. Then the effect of process parameters on these values is discussed.
Experiments are carried out for tube ironing of aluminum alloy specimens at room temperature. It is then shown that the computed results are in good agreement with the experimental observation both in forming load and in grid distortion.
