Patent ID: 8683834

Claim:
A method for determining a K-factor for a material using a forming device comprising a processor and a tooling package comprising a forming tool and a die, the method comprising: bending, by the forming device using the forming tool and the die, a part blank formed from the material; obtaining, by bending the part blank, a bent part blank; tracking, by the forming device, movement of the forming tool by measuring a movement of the forming tool during the bending; determining, by the processor, a depth of a punch tip of the forming tool when the bending is completed, the depth being relative to a die plane level of the die and being calculated as a distance between the die plane level and a punch tip position of the punch tip when the bending is completed; and calculating the K-factor for the material based upon the movement of the forming tool measured during the tracking, a radius of a neutral axis of the bent part blank that is at least partially based upon the movement, a material thickness of the part blank, and at least one of an outside dimension of the bent part blank, or an inside dimension of the bent part blank.