Traditional measuring equipment for forming analysis on metal sheet components usually provide single values and these often depend on the operator. In contrast, the optical measuring system ARGUS delivers the major and minor strain, the thickness reduction as well as the forming limit diagram. The results are available as 3D coordinates with the local strain tensor in a square mesh similar to numerical simulation results.
The main advantages of this technology are: - coverage and visualization of the complete part for a qualified verification of numerical
- simulations as well as a better understanding of the forming process,
- fast and robust measuring process for prompt investigations in the stamping area,
- fully automatic calculation which guarantees a high level of consistency and repeatable accuracy independent of the operator
- mobility of the system which allows for measuring parts at different places.
These advantages cause a good acceptance in the steel and aluminum industry as well as in the automotive and tooling industries. Through an extension of the ARGUS system the determination of forming limit curves is possible. The equipment can be integrated in deep drawing testing machines and follows the deep drawing process online. Pre-defined evaluation approaches allow a fast and nearly automatic determination of the forming limit curves in a short time. The high accuracy of the system provides high quality data for material with low as well as with very high formability. The importance of this technology will further increase as it improves the time compression of the part and its production development as well as shortens the feedback time of the production monitoring. | 
