Method for optimizing the cooling design of hot stamping tools

During the past years hot-stamped components have gained considerable importance in the automotive industry. This is due to the advantageous properties involved, such as good crash behavior and high strength. In the production of hot-stamped components the blank is rapidly cooled by the tool. This exerts an important influence on the final properties and the process time. The tool is actively cooled by cooling ducts through which a medium flows. This article will present a newly developed method in which the design of the cooling ducts can be systematically optimized. A test tool is used to show the results of this method. It is easy to realize an optimized tool for the hot stamping process.