A Local Softening Method for Reducing Die Load and Increasing Service Life in Trimming of Hot Stamped Part

In general, hot stamped component is trimmed by costly and time consuming laser cutting when the material strength is over 1,500MPa. The aim of this work was to demonstrate that the trimming die life is improved and the trimming load is decreased by lowering the strength of the region to be trimmed. The model employed in this study was a hat shape, similar to the cross section of many hot stamped products. FE-analysis of hot stamping process was performed to evaluate the effect of tool shape on cooling rate at the area to be trimmed. The best tool shape was thus identified, which created slower cooling and lower hardness at the region to be trimmed. The wear at the cutting tool edge was also reduced.