n value

“A term commonly referred to as work-hardening exponent derived from the relationship between true stress  and true strain  given by =K ⁿ.  Often called work strengthening exponent and in mechanical nomenclature may be called “m” (Automotive Steel Partnership, 1991, p. 11).

necking

(1) The reduction of the crosssectional area of metal in a localized area by uniaxial tension or by stretching. (2) The reduction of the diameter of a portion of the length of a cylindrical shell or tube. The onset of localized necking is dependent upon the stress state which is affected by geometrical factors.

nest

(1) To stack like parts within one another to occupy a minimum space. (2) A plate having an opening to conform to the contour of a part used to locate the part in a die. (3) To lay out a blank so that the outlines of parts produced will interlock with each following and each preceding part and require the minimum amount of material.

nesting

The process of accurately locating and holding the part in a die or fixture by using gages or the part's form.

nitrogen die cylinder

See gas cylinder.

nitrogen pressure

“The nitrogen pressure in cylinders which are used to cushion the dies (Automotive Steel Partnership, 1991, p. 11).

no stock movement

On progressive dies this is the bottom portion of the press stroke during which the . coil feed cannot move the strip.

noise factors

“Factors that can potentially affect the quality characteristic but cannot be controlled at the design phase” (Moen, R. D., Nolan, T. W., Provost, L. P., 1991, p.405).

noise variable

“See background variable” (Moen, R. D., Nolan, T. W., Provost, L. P., 1991, p.402).

normalizing

A process of heating the steel above the critical temperature and cooling it freely in air.  It is a special case of annealing.  Normalizing does leave the metal in a uniform, unstressed condition but may not -leave it machinable.  See annealing.

notching

The cutting out of various shapes from the edge of a strip, blank, or part.

nuisance variable

“An unknown background variable that can affect a response variable in an experiment, sometimes called a lurking variable or extraneous variable” (Moen, R. D., Nolan, T. W., Provost, L. P., 1991, p.405).

nutter die

A die that incorporates nutter units to clinch nuts into sheet metal parts.

n-value

See strain-hardening exponent.