Strain distribution and failure mode in single point incremental forming (SPIF) of multiple commercially pure aluminum sheets

Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) of sheet metals is an area where industry can focus in the future due to the enormous opportunities available for automated fabrication of sheet metal parts. The productivity in the SPIF of sheet metals is less. However, the SPIF of multiple sheets in a single set up is believed to have considerably improved the production rate. This paper describes a SPIF experimental work conducted with multiple commercially pure aluminium sheets. The results show that the productivity is improved considerably and the sheets fail under combination of shear and brittle failure mode. The results also show that the major true strain on the top most sheet is higher and the major strain on the other sheets at the corresponding site is decreasing with respect to the position of the sheet from the topmost sheet. (C) 2017 The Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.