Design rules and applications of single-point incremental forming

Abstract

Single-point incremental forming is a sheet metal forming technique with great potential for use in prototyping and custom manufacture. While this process has undergone considerable development in recent years, designers may benefit from clear design rules to guide the process of designing for and implementing single-point incremental forming. This article presents simple design guidelines that translate forming limits into simple design constraints. A method of developing intermediate models for multi-pass forming is also documented. To demonstrate the utility of such simple design rules, examples of components that were made using this process are presented as case studies.