
During each forming simulation process, the forces required
to form the metal
are being calculated. It is possible to output (for
each piece of tooling in each process) the forces experienced and required
to form the sheet metal.
This is vital information at the early stage of a sheet
metal tooling project,
when it is important that the required tonnages
are understood, to ensure
appropriate production equipment (press machines)
are available.
Tonnages outputed from the forming simulation are MINIMUM
requirements
and some allowance should be added (eg: 20%) to allow for
press machine inefficiencies and other mechancial energy losses.