the other real world factors including variable numbers of operational cylinders valve nonlinearities and pressure drop across hoses fourth the software environment that allows monitoring capture and recording of try out data from sensors and operator input along with a knowledge based expert system for generating blank holder force recommendations is an innovation that provides additional value in terms of process efficiency the combination of these innovations provides a knowledge based reconfigurable variable blank holder force actuation system for sheet metal stamping that addresses the needs of the industry and allow implementation of a technology that will improve the efficiency of the sheet metal forming process immensely the method and system described herein provide reconfigurability using different layers of software and knowledge based hierarchy an exemplary algorithm to work with the system 400 is illustrated in fig5 and includes the following sequence 1 start the process step 501 and input part data step 502 2 load knowledge base simulation data step 503 3 is manual modification necessary step 504 4 if affirmative go to step 505 and modify data if negative go to step 506 5 step 506 consists in downloading data to digital controller 6 operator confirms readiness to make the part step 507 7 is machine control active step 508 if affirmative go to step 509 and implement machine control at step 509 if negative go to step 510 and implement hydraulic force control 8 is it the end of forming stroke if negative go back to step 508 if affirmative go to step 512 and perform operator part assessment 9 does part rating meet requirement step 513 if negative go back to step 505 10 if affirmative check in step 514 to see if parts are consistent if negative.