AutoForm Hydro – Rapid Design and Simulation of Tube Hydroforming

AutoForm Hydro enables the user to carry out a complete virtual tryout of the hydroforming process which involves all of the process steps, such as bending, preforming, hydroforming, annealing, calibration, cutting, piercing and springback. Starting from the initial part geometry, AutoForm Hydro allows users to rapidly generate all necessary tool geometries as well as to simulate and evaluate the complete forming process of hydroformed parts. AutoForm Hydro is used by part designers, process engineers as well as tool and die makers to evaluate hydroforming tool designs and process layouts.

This latest version, AutoForm Hydro 2014, has a wide range of new features and improvements for rapid tool design and simulation of tube hydroforming processes. The most distinctive improvements include modeling of intermediate tool geometries, multi-stage hydroforming process evaluation as well as simulation of (low) multi pressure hydroforming. An important novelty is AutoForm-HydroSigma, which enables engineers to systematically improve the hydroforming process and ensures the most efficient and robust manufacturing.

With the increasing usage of challenging materials, such as high strength steels, the analysis of springback issues when hydroforming parts is becoming more and more important. AutoForm Hydro enables accurate springback simulation and evaluation of springback after any forming process step. In addition, AutoForm Hydro enables the simulation and evaluation of the entire hydroforming process, either by high, multi step high or (low) multi pressure hydroforming technologies, which allows the user to select the best of them.

Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering, has stated: “AutoForm Hydro 2014 enables users to quickly generate and evaluate alternative tool designs and process layouts as well as to find the best forming process for hydroformed parts. This software solution provides a comprehensive in-depth understanding and validation of the entire hydroforming process. With AutoForm Hydro, companies can benefit from shorter development times, reduced tooling, material and production costs as well as improved process reliability.”