Incremental Sheet Metal Forming Prototyping

Incremental sheet forming is a sheet metal forming technique where a sheet is formed into the final workpiece by a series of small incremental deformations.

Incremental sheet metal forming prototyping.

However studies have shown that it can be applied to polymer and composite sheets too. This paper presents an account of some investigations into a new die less rapid prototyping process for sheetmetal forming namely incremental sheetmetal forming isf. In order to make an automobile body structure incremental sheet metal forming is introduced as a rapid prototyping process. The final product is formed by a series of incremental deformations.

As a result the incremental sheet forming isf technology is a new possibility to decrease the cost problem in small volume production. Single point incremental forming is a rather new sheet metal forming process forming by local stretching of the sheet with a pin tool following a tool path controlled by a cnc machine. The tool path is programmed for a cnc machine or a robot and the desired shape is formed without the need of a forming die. Current developments have been focused on forming asymmetric parts using cnc technology without the need for costly dies.

Generally the sheet is formed by a round tipped tool typically 5 to 20mm in diameter. Asymmetric incremental sheet forming has the potential to revolutionize sheet metal forming making it accessible to all levels of manufacturing. Its adaptability to cnc systems is excellent through. The controlled movement of the tool enables a 3 dimensional profile to be made.

The incremental sheet forming machine isf by eurecat offers a new technology service from prototype and short series manufacturing to complete transfer of technology to companies involving a tailor made machine to meet your manufacturing news. The tool which can be attached to a cnc machine a robot arm or similar indents into the sheet by about 1 mm and follows a contour for the desired part. The process involves the use of a single smooth tool to carry out local sheet metal deformation progressively on a cnc milling machine. Incremental sheet metal forming ismf is a highly flexible and versatile process to produce complex sheet metal parts and rapid prototypes.

Incremental sheet forming is an inexpensive technique for sheet metal prototyping and small batch works. Numerical modeling of the process is initially used to predict the deformation of the sheet metal to avoid failure during the incremental forming process using abaqus explicit finite element code and oyane s ductile fracture criterion via a vumat user material.