Thermal and mechanical load on the die clamping system in the forging hammer

Force-based, near-net-shape process monitoring is an established means of evaluating tool and machine loads and to draw conclusions about component quality in many areas of machining and forming. However, this does not apply to the forging process in forging hammers, as there are no corresponding measuring systems. This work presents an experimentally tested possibility of force measurement, by using strain gauges, close to the forging die and evaluates it on the basis of the forging process measurement data obtained. Neuroanalytical networks are used to determine the force distribution resulting from the measured strains, which shows that sensory clamping systems have the potential to monitor the forging process, as it was clearly possible to measure different loads on the clamping systems caused by the individual strokes per workpiece. Therefore, it serves as enabler for the development of possible process monitoring systems.