Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) is a die-less sheet metal forming method. Because SPIF does not use custom tooling, this process allows for parts to be made at low cost and short lead times. In this thesis electric current is applied through the tool to alter the formability of samples formed with SPIF. The research goal of this work is to determine if formability is effected by resistive heating alone or if there is some formability change due to the current interacting with the material. An apparatus that allows electrical current to be applied through the tool during forming is designed and implemented. A method is also developed to allow the contact area between the tool and sheet to be estimated, with particular focus on developing a method that allows for experimental measurement. The effect of applied current on formability is estimated by evaluating the maximum wall angle that can be formed in a single pass, using a variety of tool sizes and current settings. Using the contact area model to estimate current density, a signicant increase in formability is found at a current density range that agrees with previously published literature on electrically assisted forming of the same material. The results show that across multiple tool sizes, a significant increase in formability is observed when applying a current density (A/mm2) larger than the current threshold density published in the literature. A study is also performed to test the performance of a set of novel tool shapes. By using parabolic tools, it was found that formability can be improved while maintaining low surface roughness. Finally, a series of case studies are presented documenting the production several parts for a variety of design groups and researchers at Queen's University. These case studies provide examples for the uses of SPIF, as well as document the methods used to produce these parts in greater detail than is present in the literature. / Thesis (Ph.D, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-11-29 16:06:51.964

This work studied the effects of step size, angle, spindle speed, and feed rate on the external surface roughening, orange peel effect, observed in single point incremental forming (SPIF). Experimental results were used to estimate models to categorize the extent of orange peel roughening based on visual inspection and on surface roughness measurements. Tests were performed at very high rotational speeds and feed rates and showed various influences on surface roughness, thickness distribution, and grain size. Friction at the tool-sheet interface was also studied with a completely instrumented tool that measured and recorded torsion and forming forces through deformation strains. Coefficients of friction for each part were determined and through statistical analysis, the influence of each of the following forming parameters was established: material thickness, formed shape, tool size, step size, forming speeds (feed rate and rotational speed), and forming angle. Multidimensional response surfaces were generated to show when and under what condition friction was minimized. A new contact zone representation for SPIF was also established. This formulation used common forming parameters and geometric considerations to determine the contacting zone between the sheet and the tool. Area models were proposed for both the tangential and torsional component of friction in SPIF. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-02-01 16:47:17.249

Le formage incrémental consiste à utiliser un poinçon de forme simple dont le mouvement va progressivement mettre en forme une tôle. Il ouvre de nouvelles perspectives quant au potentiel des procédés de mise en forme des tôles métalliques. La mise en oeuvre du formage incrémental par des systèmes mécaniques ayant des capacités dynamiques accrues et des volumes accessibles importants tels que les robots manipulateurs sériels ou parallèles est un moyen efficace d’améliorer, d’une part la productivité mais aussi la complexité des pièces formées. L’objectif scientifique de ce travail est de contribuer au développement d’une approche globale du problème, en se plaçant à la fois à l’échelle « mésoscopique » du procédé et à l’échelle « macroscopique » du système de fabrication. C’est dans ce contexte qu’est proposée une approche couplée matériau/structure combinant d’une part l’analyse éléments finis du procédé et d’autre part un modèle élastique de la structure du robot.Tout d’abord, les efforts requis au niveau de l’outil pour former la pièce sont calculés sous l’hypothèse d’une structure de machine parfaitement rigide. Afin de minimiser l’erreur entre la prédiction et la mesure des efforts de formage, trois facteurs identifiés comme influents sur le niveau d’effort sont étudiés. Il est alors démontré, qu’à partir d’un choix de paramètres adapté, il est possible de s’affranchir de la mesure des efforts de formage, ce qui n’est actuellement pas le cas dans la littérature.Les efforts prédits sont ensuite définis comme une donnée d’entrée du modèle élastique de la structure robot afin de calculer les erreurs de poses du centre outil. Pour prendre en compte le comportement élastique de la structure, la modélisation des structures robotisées par des éléments de type poutre est retenue puis appliquée à un robot industriel Fanuc S420if. Elle permet de prédire ce comportement avec une précision maximale de ± 0,35 mm, quelque soit le chargement en bout d’outil supportable par le robot.Afin de valider l’approche, deux pièces sont formées par le robot : un cône tronqué et une pyramide vrillée. La géométrie de ces deux pièces permet de valider à la fois les hypothèses de la simulation ainsi que l’approche globale. Ces deux expérimentations entraînent une amélioration de 80 % de l’exactitude de pose du robot, rapprochant ainsi celui-ci des performances d’une machine à commande numérique à structure cartésienne.Finalement, dans la dernière partie, une boucle d’optimisation permet de prendre en compte, dès le calcul de la trajectoire, l’effet du retour élastique de la tôle avant le débridage de la pièce afin de minimiser l’écart entre le profil nominal et le profil formé. L’application de l’approche couplée à cette trajectoire se traduit par une précision géométrique de ± 0,15 mm du profil formé avant desserrage de la tôle, ouvrant ainsi des perspectives intéressantes quant à l’application de la méthodologie. / The incremental forming is an innovative process which consists in forming a sheet by the progressive movements of a punch. A solution to improve the productivity of the process and the complexity of the parts shapes is to use robots (serial or parallel). The scientific aim of this work is to define a global approach of the problem by studying the mesoscopic scale of the process and the macroscopic scale of the machine. In this context, a process/machine coupling approach which combines a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the process and an elastic modeling of the robot structure is presented.First, the punch forces necessary to form the part are computed assuming a machine structure perfectly stiff. To minimize the error between the predicted forming forces and the measured ones, the weight of three numerical and material parameters of the FEA is investigated. This study shows that an appropriate choice of parameters avoids the force measurement step, unlike the available approaches in the literature.Then, the predicted forces are defined as input data of the elastic model of the robot structure to compute the Tool Center Point (TCP) pose errors. To consider the behavior of the elastic structure, the modeling of robotized structures by beam elements is chosen and applied to an industrial robot Fanuc S420if. The identified elastic model permits to predict the TCP displacements induced by the elastic behavior of the robot structure over the workspace whatever the load applied on the tool. The prediction maximum error of ±0.35 mm remains compatible with the process requirements.To validate the approach, two parts are formed by the robot: a truncated cone and a twisted pyramid. The geometry of these two parts confirms the hypothesis of the simulation and the global approach. These two tests give very interesting results since an improvement of 80 % of the TCP poseaccuracy is identified.Finally, an optimization loop based on a parametric trajectory and on a FEA anticipates the springback effects before the unclamping of the sheet, and then minimizes the error between the nominal shape and the formed one. The application of the process/machine coupling approach for this trajectory leads to a geometric accuracy of the part before unclamping of ± 0.15 mm. These results open interesting perspectives for the methodology application.

In this thesis, an actuation system is developed for a Two-Axis Gyroscopic (TAG) adapter. This adapter is a fixture with two auxiliary axes which is used for the Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) technique to enhance a three-axis mill to have five-axis capabilities. With five-axis mill capabilities, variable angles between line segments of the toolpath and the tool can be obtained. To achieve specialized angles between a line segment and the SPIF tool, the sheet is rotated. Inverse kinematic equations for the TAG adapter are derived to calculate the required rotations for the TAG adapter’s auxiliary axes for a line segment of a toolpath. If the next line segment requires a different orientation of the sheet, the sheet is rotated while the tool follows the rotation of the sheet to maintain its position at the connecting point of the line segments of the toolpath. Five equations of motions are derived to calculate the three translations of the mill and two rotations of the TAG adapter’s frames, during forming. A toolpath execution algorithm is implemented in MATLAB which uses the five equations of motion to execute a toolpath. The algorithm generates an array of data points that can be used by a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine to follow a desired path. A visual representation for the execution of the toolapth is implemented in MATLAB and is used to illustrate the successful completion of a toolpath. A computer controlled motor system is selected and tested in this thesis which will ultimately be integrated with a worm gear system and a CNC machine to develop a full CNC actuation system. / UOIT

No description available.

A simple model that includes energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the economics of machining is proposed, which has been published in the highly respected and cited journal, Annals of CIRP (International Academy for Production Engineering). This is a timely analysis in current government discussions on a proposed carbon tax or a carbon cap and trade regime and greater energy efficiency. The new cost model is based on life cycle analysis methodology for the initial part production. An illustrative example is given showing that the cheapest electrical grid should not be chosen, if it also has the highest CO2 emissions. Accurate pricing is important, because the more expensive product was highly dependent on the carbon price. A comprehensive review of machining economic models is covered. However, there is a dearth of actual machining data in the literature. This work includes studies in milling and single point incremental forming (SPIF) which can be used by other manufacturing engineers in their machining economic model development. The first milling study involved simple straight cuts. In general, as feed rate (FD) increased (increasing the material removal rate, MRR), the energy consumed decreased as process time decreased. In contrast, as spindle speed (N) increased, energy consumed increased, since more power is drawn by the motor, without a process time reduction. Given the inverse power relationship observed for the time, energy, process CO2 and cost against MRR, the recommended parameters were the same at the highest FD and lowest N permissible. In the second milling study with constant N for a more complex part (sprocket), similar relationships were observed. However, for sprockets made at constant chip load (allowing FD and N to change together), there were varying prescribed MRRs for time, energy, process CO2 and cost minimization. The SPIF studies showed a similar relationship to the constant N milling, and, that results for a simple part can be extrapolated to improve efficiency in more complex parts. Finally, although the energy and carbon costs represented a small contribution to the final cost, their significance increased for higher efficiency parameters or user conditions, e.g. low labour rate. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2011-12-03 19:58:07.76

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o comportamento do aço inoxidável austenítico AISI 304L para o processo de Estampagem Incremental de Chapas (ISF - Incremental Sheet Forming), baseado nos parâmetros: raio da ferramenta RT, ângulo de parede a e passo vertical dz. Os experimentos baseiam-se na variante da Estampagem Incremental denominada Estampagem Incremental com Ponto Simples (SPIF - Single Point Incremental Forming). Foram realizados 29 ensaios, em três ferramentas com raios de 5, 8 e 10 mm. Basicamente, a estrutura empregada foi um dispositivo para fixação da chapa, um centro de usinagem vertical e um software de CAD/CAM. O melhor acabamento da superfície conformada medido através da média da rugosidade Rz foi alcançado com ferramentas de raio de 10 mm. Após a conformação, os corpos de prova apresentaram um significativo encruamento de seus grãos, o que conduziu parte da microestrutura originalmente austenítica a uma transformação martensítica induzida por deformação (efeito TRIP). Pode-se constatar também, que existe uma tendência do aumento do ângulo de parede aumentar a microdureza da região encruada. Os ensaios de Estampagem Incremental nesta pesquisa mostram que os gráficos das deformações exibem a tendência de que o modo como ocorrem as deformações, aproximam-se muito da deformação plana (Q2 0). / The objective of this work is to study the behavior of austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L during the ISF process (Incremental Sheet Forming). The study was based on the following parameters: tool radius RT, wall angle and vertical depth dz. The tests were based on a variation of the ISF process, called SPIF (Single Point Incremental Forming). A total of 29 tests were performed with 5, 8 and 10 mm of tool radius. Basically, the structure used was a rig for attachment of the sheet, a Vertical Machining Center and a CAD/CAM software. The best surface finish formed, measured by parameter RZ, was obtained with 10 mm of tool radius. After the forming, the specimens presented a significant mechanical hardening of the grains, which induced part of the microstructure originally austenitic to a martensitic transformation induced by deformation (TRIP effect). It can also be verified that there is a tendency that the increase of the wall angle increases the micro hardness of the mechanical hardened area. The graphs of strains show a trend: the deformation mode is very close to plane strain conditions (Q2 0).

Este trabalho busca alternativas para fabricação de coletores solares planos aplicando técnicas inovadoras em conformação de chapas metálicas. O objetivo é desenvolver um processo de fabricação flexível para placa absorvedora, empregando a técnica da Estampagem Incremental. Esta técnica utiliza uma matriz de suporte de PU, um prensa-chapas e um pequeno punção em conjunto com um centro de usinagem CNC. A Ferramenta utilizada consiste um punção de ponta esférica de fácil fabricação que "desenha" o canal de passagem da água diretamente na chapa, promovendo uma deformação pontual e progressiva. Para compor o canal utilizou-se a técnica de solda por atrito (Friction Stir Welding) com uma ferramenta simples que aproveita o mesmo ferramental da estampagem incremental em um “set-up” rápido da CNC. Foram utilizadas chapas de alumínio de 1mm de espessura. O novo coletor apresenta uma eficiência aprimorada em comparação aos fabricados pelo método tradicional, com uma geometria que favoreça a área de contato com a água. Este processo permite uma formidável flexibilização, viabilizando a produção de pequenos lotes e tornando possível produzir uma enorme variedade de produtos e componentes de geometrias complexas a partir de um ferramental simples e tempos de “set-up” reduzidos. / This work searches alternatives for solar energy collectors manufacture, applying new technologies of sheet metal forming. The objective is to develop a flexible fabrication process for the absorber sheet, using Incremental Sheet Forming. It consists in a PU support die, a blank holder and a small tool, applied in a CNC machine Center. The tool consists in a spherical edge punch of easy fabrication that “draws” the water channel directly into the sheet, promoting a punctual and progressive deformation. To compose the channel, it was used a second sheet jointed by Friction Stir Welding technique, with a simple tool that uses the same tooling of the Incremental Forming in a quick setup of the CNC. Aluminum sheets of 1mm tick were used. It is expected that this new collector panel should improve the thermal efficiency when compared to the traditionally fabricated, and with a geometry that benefits the contact area with the water. This process allows a formidable flexibilization, making the low volume production feasible, allowing the production of a great variety of products and components with complex geometries from simple tooling and reduced setup times.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o comportamento do aço inoxidável austenítico AISI 304L para o processo de Estampagem Incremental de Chapas (ISF - Incremental Sheet Forming), baseado nos parâmetros: raio da ferramenta RT, ângulo de parede a e passo vertical dz. Os experimentos baseiam-se na variante da Estampagem Incremental denominada Estampagem Incremental com Ponto Simples (SPIF - Single Point Incremental Forming). Foram realizados 29 ensaios, em três ferramentas com raios de 5, 8 e 10 mm. Basicamente, a estrutura empregada foi um dispositivo para fixação da chapa, um centro de usinagem vertical e um software de CAD/CAM. O melhor acabamento da superfície conformada medido através da média da rugosidade Rz foi alcançado com ferramentas de raio de 10 mm. Após a conformação, os corpos de prova apresentaram um significativo encruamento de seus grãos, o que conduziu parte da microestrutura originalmente austenítica a uma transformação martensítica induzida por deformação (efeito TRIP). Pode-se constatar também, que existe uma tendência do aumento do ângulo de parede aumentar a microdureza da região encruada. Os ensaios de Estampagem Incremental nesta pesquisa mostram que os gráficos das deformações exibem a tendência de que o modo como ocorrem as deformações, aproximam-se muito da deformação plana (Q2 0). / The objective of this work is to study the behavior of austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L during the ISF process (Incremental Sheet Forming). The study was based on the following parameters: tool radius RT, wall angle and vertical depth dz. The tests were based on a variation of the ISF process, called SPIF (Single Point Incremental Forming). A total of 29 tests were performed with 5, 8 and 10 mm of tool radius. Basically, the structure used was a rig for attachment of the sheet, a Vertical Machining Center and a CAD/CAM software. The best surface finish formed, measured by parameter RZ, was obtained with 10 mm of tool radius. After the forming, the specimens presented a significant mechanical hardening of the grains, which induced part of the microstructure originally austenitic to a martensitic transformation induced by deformation (TRIP effect). It can also be verified that there is a tendency that the increase of the wall angle increases the micro hardness of the mechanical hardened area. The graphs of strains show a trend: the deformation mode is very close to plane strain conditions (Q2 0).

Este trabalho busca alternativas para fabricação de coletores solares planos aplicando técnicas inovadoras em conformação de chapas metálicas. O objetivo é desenvolver um processo de fabricação flexível para placa absorvedora, empregando a técnica da Estampagem Incremental. Esta técnica utiliza uma matriz de suporte de PU, um prensa-chapas e um pequeno punção em conjunto com um centro de usinagem CNC. A Ferramenta utilizada consiste um punção de ponta esférica de fácil fabricação que "desenha" o canal de passagem da água diretamente na chapa, promovendo uma deformação pontual e progressiva. Para compor o canal utilizou-se a técnica de solda por atrito (Friction Stir Welding) com uma ferramenta simples que aproveita o mesmo ferramental da estampagem incremental em um “set-up” rápido da CNC. Foram utilizadas chapas de alumínio de 1mm de espessura. O novo coletor apresenta uma eficiência aprimorada em comparação aos fabricados pelo método tradicional, com uma geometria que favoreça a área de contato com a água. Este processo permite uma formidável flexibilização, viabilizando a produção de pequenos lotes e tornando possível produzir uma enorme variedade de produtos e componentes de geometrias complexas a partir de um ferramental simples e tempos de “set-up” reduzidos. / This work searches alternatives for solar energy collectors manufacture, applying new technologies of sheet metal forming. The objective is to develop a flexible fabrication process for the absorber sheet, using Incremental Sheet Forming. It consists in a PU support die, a blank holder and a small tool, applied in a CNC machine Center. The tool consists in a spherical edge punch of easy fabrication that “draws” the water channel directly into the sheet, promoting a punctual and progressive deformation. To compose the channel, it was used a second sheet jointed by Friction Stir Welding technique, with a simple tool that uses the same tooling of the Incremental Forming in a quick setup of the CNC. Aluminum sheets of 1mm tick were used. It is expected that this new collector panel should improve the thermal efficiency when compared to the traditionally fabricated, and with a geometry that benefits the contact area with the water. This process allows a formidable flexibilization, making the low volume production feasible, allowing the production of a great variety of products and components with complex geometries from simple tooling and reduced setup times.