Single Point Incremental Metal Forming

Uses a custom tool, which acts in a similar way to ballpoint pen to gradually form a piece of sheet metal.

Single Point Incremental Metal Forming (SPIMF) uses a custom tool, which acts in a similar way to ballpoint pen to gradually form a piece of sheet metal. The tool is attached to an industrial six axis robot, which pushes the tool between a .3-1mm per pass as it forms 20 gauge cold rolled sheet metal. Currently, this particular setup can form a piece of sheet metal that ranges in size from a 16″x16″ panel up to a 48″x48″ panel. The above work is the footing for research in how to better form custom pieces of sheet metal for use in the field of architecture.