Study on the formability by TPIF technology for aluminium sheet at room temperature

Abstract

Two Point Incremental Forming technology (TPIF) is one forming method of incremental sheet forming technology (ISF) which is an innovation sheet forming process with potential advantages such as simplicity, less-time consumption, and high flexibility. This technology using a hemispherical-end tool under CNC movement deforms a metal sheet which is fixed on simple frame. The sheet metal clamped between movable plate and clamp plate, under the metal sheet has a support die which is fixed on bottom plate. The lower plate is firmly positioned on the CNC machine table in while upper plate (included sheet material, movable plate and clamp plate) is able to move easily up and down along guide bars. The sheet material is plastically deformed layer by layer until final-shape product by CNC tool path. This technology is very suit for the rapid prototyping process and the low batch production. In this research, formability of the TPIF process due to operating parameters was investigated with aluminum sheet at room temperature. Four operating parameters such as depth step, feed rate, tool diameter, and spindle speed, was considered their effects on the formability of TPIF process through DOE strategy. The forming results showed that TPIF process for metal sheet material at room temperature has potential applicability in the metal sheet-product manufacturing.