Incremental Sheet Metal Forming Prototyping

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.

Incremental sheet metal forming prototyping.

In order to make an automobile body structure incremental sheet metal forming is introduced as a rapid prototyping process. Its adaptability to cnc systems is excellent through. Generally the sheet is formed by a round tipped tool typically 5 to 20mm in diameter. As a result the incremental sheet forming isf technology is a new possibility to decrease the cost problem in small volume production.

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. 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. Incremental sheet metal forming ismf is a highly flexible and versatile process to produce complex sheet metal parts and rapid prototypes. Incremental sheet forming eurecatem 2020 01 10t08 10 05 00 00 prototyping and manufacturing singular parts or short series of metal in complex shapes now is possible.

It introduces the use of metallic or polymeric sheet for small batches production in an economic way without the need of expensive or dedicated tools. The process involves the use of a single smooth tool to carry out local sheet metal deformation progressively on a cnc milling machine. This paper presents an account of some investigations into a new die less rapid prototyping process for sheetmetal forming namely incremental sheetmetal forming isf. 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 final product is formed by a series of incremental deformations. Asymmetric incremental sheet forming has the potential to revolutionize sheet metal forming making it accessible to all levels of manufacturing. The controlled movement of the tool enables a 3 dimensional profile to be made. 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.

Rapid prototyping rp techniques in the sheet metal forming industry is developed to quickly test the form and fit of new sheet metal products on a prototype basis as well as for production runs characterized by small lot sizes. However studies have shown that it can be applied to polymer and composite sheets too.