IT HAS BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED THAT IN DRAWING AN ALUMINUM BLANK INTO A CUP, A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN PROPERTIES OF THE WORKPIECE AND TOOLS AND THE CORRESPONDING DRAWING FORCE, WORKING STRESSES, FRICTION, WEAR AND LUBRICATION AS WELL AS THE OVERALL DESIGN. SELECTION OF THOSE FACTORS NECESSARY FOR OPTIMIZING THE DEEP DRAWING PROCESS IS OF INTEREST IN THIS PAPER, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS GIVEN TO FRICTION, WEAR AND LUBRICATION. IMPROPER SELECTION OF THOSE KEY FACTORS INVOLVED WILL NOT ONLY GIVE A POOR RESULT BUT ALSO AN OCCASIONALLY PUZZLING RESULT SUCH AS THE PROCESS SHOWING A GOOD PRODUCT AT ONE OPERATING CONDITION BUT A POOR PRODUCT AT OTHER OPERATING CONDITIONS. THIS, OR COURSE, IS NOT A DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTIC, AND MUST BE AVOIDED.