Fundamentals on the manufacturing of sheet metal microparts

The miniaturization of components and therefore the downscaling of metal forming processes, as it can be observed today especially in the field of electronics production, is closely connected with changes in the relative contribution of those parameters which determine the forming result, like for example the microstructural features of the workpiece material and the roughness of workpiece and tool. In this paper some basic considerations are pointed out concerning bending - both laser bending and mechanical air bending - and punching. The importance of the geometrical and the material parameters for the micro metal forming process are pointed out using theoretical, both numerical and analytical, as well as experimental results. From these results some preconditions are deduced which are a basis for guidelines for sheet metal forming processes in the field of smallest workpiece dimensions.