Identifying variation in sheet metal stamping

This work looks at two different "Design of Experiments" (DoE) methods for defining an operating window in the sheet metal stamping process. The first involves the use of replicates at the different experimental points, while the second is a nonreplicated method. The two methods are compared by look ing at the relationship results produced and the indication of variation in the process. It is found that the results from both the methods are very s imilar. However, the replicated method provides a greater level of confiden ce in the results. In the stamping process, where performing large numbers of replicates is expensive in both time and money, the nonreplicated method provides a cost effective way of understanding the process. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.