Wall thickness variations in single-point incremental forming

Abstract

Single-point incremental forming is an innovative sheet metal forming method employing a standard computer numerical controlled (CNC) vertical milling machine and basic tooling. Traditionally the part is formed with a single-pass tool-path technique. A double-pass technique has been proposed as a way to modify the final thickness profile of steep geometry. Wall thickness profiles of a series of test cones have been measured and have shown that the formation of the characteristic thinning band present in single-pass forming can be delayed. Double-pass forming can allow the production of parts that thin to failure with single-pass techniques.