Recent Developments in Microhydroforming

Abstract

Microforming is an emerging forming technology area in which small parts of 1 mm or less are formed under a variety of processes and process conditions. The technology is serving several industries like machine tools, medical and surgery, aerospace, atomic power, automotive, and energy sectors. Hydroforming has been a major field of interest for engineering and scientific research as well as designers and developers to look for its optimal process in terms of surface quality and part consolidation. Sheet hydroforming (SHF) process is found to be a special one for sheet metal component manufacturing formed under high fluid pressure. In this paper, an overview of various aspects of research on microforming and microhydroforming (sheet/tube hydroforming) by the authors and others in general has been presented. Most of the papers reviewed herein relate to modeling and simulation of the process and various forming issues such as process parameters, and experimental study of different alloys has been studied. Finally, current ongoing research on micro-SHF work by the authors has been introduced.