The Influence of Toolpath Strategy on Geometric Accuracy in Incremental Forming

Abstract

Incremental sheet metal forming is a new process to manufacture sheet metal parts and it is becoming a remarkable technology for fast prototyping and small lot production because of the advantages of this technology such as process flexibility, product independent tooling and higher formability. On the other hand, limited maximum drawing angle, relatively coarse surface roughness, low geometrical accuracy and long forming time are common disadvantages of the process. Furthermore, it is affected by process parameters which are tool diameter, forming velocity, spindle speed, forming geometry and depth, etc. Toolpath strategy which is used to form sheet metal by CNC machine has a key role among these parameters. The present study has been undertaken in order to investigate the suitable toolpath strategy which is developed for metal cutting by commercial CAD/CAM software to increase geometrical accuracy and decrease thinning and forming time. For the intended purpose, seven different toolpath strategies which are rough and finish strategies were used to form a truncated frustum by using one millimeter thick S235JR steel alloy. The effect of each strategy on the surface roughness, geometrical accuracy and thinning distribution of formed product was studied by measuring thickness, drawing angle and depth of formed parts. Therefore, formed parts scanned by 3D laser scanner and STL files of parts were generated then STL files were converted into CAD file. CAD data of parts was used for measurements. The measurements showed that not only forming movements but also transition movements along the tool path affected the geometric accuracy and thinning distribution, surface roughness and forming time of formed parts. On the other hand it was observed that rough strategies were given good results as finish strategies and tool paths generated by CAM software need to be editing for better geometric accuracy, thinning, forming time and surface quality.