Tool path programming optimization for incremental sheet forming applications

Incremental sheet forming is an emerging process to manufacture sheet metal parts that is well adapted for small batch production or prototypes. The adjustment time is short, as it is sufficient to modify the tool motions to optimize the manufacturing process. Tool path generation therefore becomes a key topic linked to incremental sheet forming, and process characteristics ask for dedicated tool paths. Hence, this paper first discusses the impact of tool path types and other programming parameters on process implementation through an experimental campaign performed on a parallel kinematics machine tool. Then, a new approach to generate and control Intelligent CAM programmed tool paths is proposed. The major purpose of this innovative concept is to use process constraints for programming and controlling the tool path, which are adapted during the running of the CNC program according to real-time process data evaluation. Validation studies and an industrial implementation are finally presented to assess the efficiency of the proposed approach.