Force Prediction for Correction of Robot Tool Path in Single Point Incremental Forming

Abstract

In this work, an off-line compensation procedure, based on an elastic modelling of the machine structure coupled with a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the process is applied to Robotized Single Point Incremental Forming (RSPIF). Assuming an ideal stiff robot, the FEA evaluates the Tool Center Point (TCP) forces during the forming stage. These forces are then defined as an input data of the elastic robot model to predict and correct the tool path deviations. In order to make efficient the tool path correction, the weight of three numerical and material parameters of the FEA on the predicted forces is investigated. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed method is validated by the comparison between numerical and experimental geometries obtained with or without correction of the tool path.