Incremental Sheet Metal Forming with Sequential Two-Sided Tool Processing

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This invention is a method and device for incrementally forming sheet metal by working it from both sides — top and bottom — in sequence using a forming tool. The sheet is clamped around its perimeter to hold it in place while the tool progressively shapes a structure into it. By alternating between the upper and lower surfaces, complex geometries can be achieved that would be difficult or impossible with single-sided incremental forming alone.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Forming complex, deep, or undercut sheet metal components in automotive body panel manufacturing without dedicated dies.
• Producing customized or low-volume aerospace structural sheet metal parts where traditional stamping tooling is cost-prohibitive.
• Fabricating medical device housings or implant-adjacent sheet metal components requiring precise, patient-specific geometries.
• Prototyping and small-batch production of sheet metal enclosures or covers in industrial machinery manufacturing.
• Creating architectural cladding panels with intricate double-sided surface textures or relief structures.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables the formation of more complex geometries, including undercuts and bidirectional features, that single-sided incremental forming cannot achieve.
• Eliminates the need for expensive, part-specific stamping dies, significantly reducing tooling costs for low-volume or custom production.
• Improves geometric accuracy and reduces springback by distributing deformation incrementally across both surfaces of the sheet.
• Increases material formability by managing strain distribution from both sides, allowing deeper or more intricate shapes without cracking.
• Offers high flexibility for rapid design changes since the process is CNC-driven and does not require physical die modifications.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for forming a sheet metal (3), wherein the sheet metal (3) has a top side (3a) and a bottom side (3b) and is clamped on the peripheral side, characterized in that a structure is introduced into the sheet metal (3) by means of sequential bilateral processing from the direction of the top side (3a) and the bottom side (3b) by means of a forming tool. The device comprises a clamping device for peripheral clamping of a sheet metal (3) and a forming tool for sequential bilateral processing of the sheet metal (3) from the direction of a top side (3a) and a bottom side (3b).