Incremental Sheet Forming with Flexible Hydraulic Supports

Incremental sheet forming is an innovative process having ability to fulfill demands for customized sheet metal parts without using costly dies unlike traditional forming processes. However, shape deviation of formed parts is one of the drawbacks which need technological developments to use ISF on shop floor. Backdrawing, use of half dies and customized toolpaths are some of the techniques being worked out for reducing shape deviation but have some limitations. The present work investigates the hydraulic supports developed to reduce shape deviation of the non-axisymmetric parts formed through SPIF. Simulations were carried out with different geometries to check the effectiveness of the hydraulic support process. Results show a significant improvement in the parts formed using hydraulic support process over those formed without using it. This work gives another method for forming components with reduced bending. Also it proposes a new method of using hydraulic supports as flexible die which doesn’t needs to be changed with the part geometry.