Optimization Design for Uniform Cooling in Hot Stamping

Hot stamping is increasingly used in automobile structure part for the demand of automotive safety and emission reduction. However, due to the non-uniform cooling path of the blank, the mechanical properties are not consistent. This paper expounds that the main reason of non-uniform cooling parts is the non-uniform contact pressure and clearance between parts and sheet metal. Base on the finite element analysis of cooling path during the forming and quenching process, an optimization method that improves contact condition between blank and die is developed by using modified mold block to improve contact condition between die and blank. The result shows that the blank obtains more uniform cooling path.