Electro-magnetic Tooling for Metal Forming and Powder Compaction

Abstract

The multipurpose FE Code ANSYS is employed to simulate an electro-magnetic forming process. A complicated compression coil with a ferromagnetic outer screen and a stepped field shaper is considered. Details on FE model building are thoroughly discussed. The calculated parameters are the magnetic flux density around the conductors as well as the Lorentz forces developed in both the field shaper and the workpiece. A simplified analysis of the workpiece deformation characteristics is also provided. An equivalent circuit method is employed in order to validate the results from the electro-magnetic FE model. Results from both analyses are in good agreement, denoting that the FE results are valid from an engineering point of view.