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Incremental Sheet Metal Forming

To date expensive forming tools have been required to shape large sheet metal parts with a complex mould geometry. Unlike major industrial corporations, design studios were often unable to employ these technologies. The incremental sheet forming process (IBU) developed by the RWTH Aachen now promises to improve the situation: Half of the necessary tools are replaced by a kinematic forming process that is driven by a CNC-controlled pushbutton. Any part of the sheet metal can be shaped in this way as CAD data are directly transferred on to the work piece. Thanks to the flexible control it is possible to produce even complex shaped parts without long lead times. This makes the process interesting for architects, interior designers and furniture designers alike.