Robot-Based Incremental Sheet Metal Forming – Increasing the Part Accuracy in an Automated, Industrial Forming Cell

Abstract

This paper describes new developments in incremental, robot-based sheet metal forming (Roboforming). Roboforming is a dieless sheet metal forming process which ensures cost-effective manufacturing of prototype parts and small batches. An approach for increasing the part accuracy in Roboforming is presented. It is developed in a cooperative project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research called Roboforming. The project concentrates on the development of an industrial applicable system design. The use of standard components allows a modular and scalable set-up. A servo loop, consisting of sensors and a programming system, represents the basis of this design and shall guarantee higher part accuracies by measuring the deviations between a formed part and its target geometry. The deviations are used to derive corrected tool paths. The correction is performed by an adjustment vector for every point on the tool path. The theory for this strategy and first results are presented in this paper.