Towards Improving Process Control in Sheet Metal Forming: A Hybrid Data- and Model-Based Approach

Abstract

Ability to predict and control involved parameters and hence the outcome of sheet metal forming processes demand holistic knowledge of the product/-process parameter influences and their contribution in shaping the output product quality. Recent improvements in the ability to harvest inline production data and the capability to understand complex process behaviour through computer simulations opens up the possibility for new monitoring and control approaches for improving production process performance and output product quality. Current work presents a framework for monitoring and control of sheet metal forming processes which incorporates a hybrid dataand modelbased approach. An initial attempt to evaluate the proposed frameworks’ ability to support output product quality and process performance enhancements is made by implementing the proposed approach via an in-house built wire-bending machine prototype. Initial experiments conducted using the built prototype indicate that the proposed framework has the potential to support such enhancements and further work is needed to validate the overall framework.