An investigation of thickness distribution in Single-Point incremental forming with different forming parameter in Hot-dipped zinc-coated cold-rolled steel

Abstract

Single-point incremental forming (SPIF) is an innovative sheet metal forming process for prototyping and small lot size. SPIF has higher formability limits than conventional sheet metal forming processes. Thickness variation in the SPIF process was studied using experimental data for hot-dipped zinc-coated cold-rolled steel. Specimens were formed following the SPIF process for a conical frustum with four wall angles of 45°, 50°, 55° and 60°, collected by measuring the specimen distance along the surface for both length of slant and circumference. Thickness distribution on the specimen was irregular. Wall angle at 60° gave the highest thickness variation, while thickness distribution on the surface in the SPIF process was uneven. The SPIF process generated a high percentage of thinning of the metal sheet. Percentage thinning of the conical frustum on wall angles at 45°, 50°, 55° and 60° gave maximum values of 34.93%, 43.31%, 49.30% and 59.88% respectively.