Experimental and numerical study of a new hybrid process: multi-point incremental forming (MPIF)

Multi-Point Incremental Forming (MPIF) process is a new hybrid process that combines two common manufacturing methods. These are Multipoint Forming (MPF) and Incremental Sheet Forming (ISF) processes. In this study, an experimental set-up, based on a MP reconfigurable die, was designed and manufactured to explore the flexibility of this innovative process and its potentialities to produce complex parts using the same tools. The obtained results have indicated that this novel technique, that doesn’t require costly equipments, is an effective approach to manufacture multitude of parts with different shapes. Moreover, it has been shown that the parts geometrical accuracy as well as thickness distribution are enhanced compared to the conventional ISF process and that the geometrical defects, called ‘dimples’ and caused by the pins’ ends, are significantly reduced and almost eliminated after the insertion of a rubber piece between the reconfigurable die and the blank sheet. On the other hand, the effect of the size and geometry of the rectangular pins on the geometrical accuracy and the dimpling defect has been studied using a finite element analysis.