Magnetorheological lubricant for metal forming processes

Abstract

A forming method includes using at least one forming tool to form a material of a workpiece and using a lubricant between the, material and the at least one forming tool. The lubricant has a viscosity that is modifiable by applying or varying a field.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A forming apparatus for forming a material of a workpiece with at least one forming tool using a lubricant, comprising:
 a field generator configured to generate a field influencing the viscosity of at least one of an electro-rheological and magneto-rheological lubricant and further configured to modify the viscosity of the lubricant between the material and the at least one forming tool by varying the field during the forming of the material while the at least one forming tool is influencing the shape of the material.   
     
     
         2 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one forming tool is configured as a metal sheet forming apparatus to cold form metal sheets.   
     
     
         3 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the at least one forming tool is configured to deep draw a metal sheet.   
     
     
         4 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one forming tool is equipped with at least one permanent magnet or electric magnet.   
     
     
         5 . The forming apparatus according to  1 , wherein the at least one forming tool includes at least one electrode part to generate an electric field. 
     
     
         6 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to modify the viscosity of the lubricant between the material and the at least one forming tool by varying the field at different increments while the at least one forming tool is influencing the shape of the material.   
     
     
         7 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to apply the field to at least a part of the lubricant.   
     
     
         8 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to at least one of apply and vary the field to influence a coefficient of friction of the material on the at least one forming tool.   
     
     
         9 . The forming method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to generate the field external to the at least one forming tool.   
     
     
         10 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to generate the filed in or on the at least one forming tool.   
     
     
         11 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the field generator is configured to generate the field to conduct through at least one of the material and the at least one forming tool to the lubricant. 
     
     
         12 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to generate different fields at least one of at different locations and at different times.   
     
     
         13 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to generate the field having at least one of a spatial distribution and a flux density based on a shape of the at least one forming tool.   
     
     
         14 . The forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the field generator is configured to generate the field at at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field.