This is the first post in our PAMSTAMP series. I am starting with the basics because opening an engineering software and seeing twenty different toolbars is not exactly an introduction, is it?
We will use PAM-STAMP 2025. You may see me write PAMSTAMP in the explanation, but I mean the same software. First we will prepare a simple forming study, then run it and see what the sheet is doing. The advanced material models can wait for their turn.
What are we actually simulating?
Take a sheet of metal and form it between tools. That sheet is called the blank. The punch, die and blankholder help control its shape and movement.
Now, having the shapes on screen is only one part of the work. We also need the sheet thickness, material and tool movement. Otherwise, the software has some geometry but very little information about what to do with it.
This is what the setup is for. When a dialog looks unnecessarily complicated, try relating its fields back to the real process. Force, thickness and direction are things you already understand from engineering. We are telling the software about them.
What do you need before starting?
You need the installed software, a working license and suitable practice files. If installation is still pending, go through the Windows installation post first.
The documentation includes a Front Hood Reinforcement example. You will need its model files as well as the tutorial PDF. Reading the PDF does not put the geometry into your project :D.
Keep a copy of the original dataset. The prepared example can contain definitions that would need to be entered manually with ordinary CAD, so don’t worry if another model has more empty fields.
How will we go through this?
We will create the project, import the tools, define the blank and set up the process. After the run, we will look at thinning, forming limits, trimming and springback.
I have kept these as linked posts so you can return to the part you need. For now, open the interface post. Let us learn how to move around without accidentally losing the model from view.
Previous: PAM-STAMP 2025 Tutorials: Beginner to Advanced
Next: PAM-STAMP 2025 Interface and Useful Shortcuts
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