Abstract: Presents recent progresses of authors research on key techniques for sheet metal forming of automotive body components. Topics discussed include the skew―drawbead technique, the module―based design method of moulds and the rapid manufacturing technique based on modulization and welding of the moulds. The skew―drawbead technique makes the drawbead not only provide resistance to material flow but also guide the material flow in desired direction to avoid possible wrinkles and/or fractures in the forming process. The module―based design method designs the mould as an assembly of modules which may be designed and manufactured independently to facilitate the whole design and manufacturing process. The rapid manufacturing technique manufactures the modules automatically with specially designed devices and assemblies the modules via automatic welding equipments. Engineering applications show that the technique can reduce the total design and manufaeturing time by up to 30% while maintaining desired quality of the formed components.

Key words: composite epb shield machine, cutter head, evaluation index, evaluation method, excavation performance, NULL