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This paper describes new developments in an incremental, robot-based sheet metal forming process (Roboforming) for the cost-effective production of sheet metal components for limited-lot productions and prototypes. The paper presents strategies in robot based incremental sheet metal forming for the force controlled forming of complex parts. These parts can consist of features such as steep flanks or convex/concave alternating surfaces and they are mostly formed with a local support tool which substitutes a full die. The strategies were developed in a cooperative project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Research Foundation. Approaches to increase the part accuracy of complex parts are presented. One approach concentrates on a servo loop, consisting of sensors and a programming system. It guarantees higher part accuracies by measuring the deviations between a formed part and its target geometry. These deviations are used to derive corrected tool paths. The abdication of a partial or full die leads to a larger influence of the free compliant sheet area surrounding the formed part. Because of that the geometry shifts away from the forming tool and it cannot be formed completely. Another approach to increase the part accuracy by reinforcing this free sheet area is also presented.

ncremental sheet metal forming with direct resistance heating is used for flexible sheet metal forming at elevated temperature, where electric current is conducted through the forming tool (s) into the forming zone. The electrical and mechanical contact combined with a high temperature of up to 600°C in steel forming results in complex tool requirements and a high wear of the tooltip. Starting with a description of a new process setup, both studies concerning existing and new tool concepts and materials will be presented in this paper. Therefore, the wear of different materials for tooltips and its dependence on lubrication has been investigated in forming experiments and will be thoroughly discussed.