Abstract
In deep drawing of metal containers, consistent flange width is desirable since the trimmed flange can be curled to accept lid in the final seaming operation. There are many material and process parameters that would influence the final flange geometry. In this paper, the feasibility of using blank holder force control to obtain consistent flange width in high speed production environment is studied. With the developed image processing techniques, flange width and earing characteristics can be identified. In the event that the flange deviates from the specification, blank holder force can be controlled to correct the discrepancy in the subsequent stroke. The proposed control system prevents deep drawn parts drift away from the ideal quality settings and thus will reduce production down time.
