Multi-Point Forming Technology for Sheet Metal

Multi-point forming (MPF) is an advanced manufacturing technology for three-dimensional sheet metal parts. In this paper, the MPF integrated system is described that can form a variety of part shapes without the need for solid dies, and given only geometry and material information about the desired part. The central component of this system is a pair of matrices of punches, and the desired discrete die surface is constructed by changing the positions of punches though the CAD and control system. The basic MPF process is introduced and the typical application examples show the applicability of the MPF technology. Wrinkle and dimple are the major forming defects in MPF process, numerical simulation is a feasible way to predict forming defects in MPF. In conventional stamping, the mode to form sheet metal with blankholder is an effective way to suppress wrinkling; the same is true in MPF. A MPF press with flexible blankholder was developed, and the forming results indicated the forming stability of this technique. Based on the flexibility of MPF, varying deformation path MPF and sectional MPF were explored that cannot be realized in conventional stamping. By controlling each punch in real-time, a sheet part can be manufactured along a specific forming path. When the path of deformation in MPF is designed properly, forming defects will be avoided completely and lager deformation is achieved. A work piece can be formed section by section though the sectional MPF, and this technique makes it possible to manufacture large size parts in a small MPF press. Some critical experiments were performed that confirmed the validity of two special MPF techniques.

Finite Element Simulation of Flexible Roll Forming with Supplemented Material Data and the Experimental Verification

Flexible roll forming is a promising manufacturing method for the production of variable cross section products. Considering the large plastic strain in this forming process which is much larger than that of uniform deformation phase of uniaxial tensile test, the widely adopted method of simulating the forming processes with non-supplemented material data from uniaxial tensile test will certainly lead to large error. To reduce this error, the material data is supplemented based on three constitutive models. Then a finite element model of a six passes flexible roll forming process is established based on the supplemented material data and the original material data from the uniaxial tensile test. The flexible roll forming experiment of a B pillar reinforcing plate is carried out to verify the proposed method. Final cross section shapes of the experimental and the simulated results are compared. It is shown that the simulation calculated with supplemented material data based on Swift model agrees well with the experimental results, while the simulation based on original material data could not predict the actual deformation accurately. The results indicate that this material supplement method is reliable and indispensible, and the simulation model can well reflect the real metal forming process. Detailed analysis of the distribution and history of plastic strain at different positions are performed. A new material data supplement method is proposed to tackle the problem which is ignored in other roll forming simulations, and thus the forming process simulation accuracy can be greatly improved.

Deep drawing of cup shell by powder cavity flexible forming technology

A forming method named powder cavity flexible forming was proposed. It is a forming technology which uses powder medium instead of rigid punch or die to form sheet metals. Cup shells were successfully obtained by this technology. The theoretical calculation equation of forming load was obtained through mechanical analysis and the stress state in cup shells was analyzed by finite element simulation. The results show that powder cavity flexible forming technology can improve the forming limit of sheet metal. Compared with rigid die forming process, the thickness reduction in the punch fillet area significantly decreases and the drawing ratio increases from 1.8 to 2.2. The thinning compressive stress in the bottom of cup shell emerges, which makes the bottom of the cup shell in three-dimensional stress state and the stress in punch fillet region decrease due to powder reaction force, which can effectively inhibit the sever thinning of the sheet and prevent the generation of fracture defects.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION FOR LASER BENDING OF SHEET METAL

The new flexible forming technique of sheet metal laser bending process is numerically simulated by using finite element method of large elastic plastic deformation. The temperature fields and stress strain distribution in deformation area are calculated, forming process is described and relationship between bend angle and width of sheet is discussed. It is shown that the calculated values are in good accordance with the experiments.

Integrated design approach for improving architectural forms in industrialized building systems

An architectural design process is investigated to achieve form flexibility in industrialized building systems （IBS）, as IBS constructions do not have sufficient flexibility to develop varied architectural forms. The ethnography method has been used to examine the issues related to ＂form＂ flexibility in the design life cycle of IBS constructions by observing the constructions of live experimental models. The major tasks and respective design aspects that facilitate form flexibitities in architectural design have been identified. Furthermore, an integrated life cycle mode[ has been developed to effectively address the interfaces between the design tasks and eventually fulfill the needs of IBS in the design life cycle.