The Performance of 3D Printed Polymer Tools in Sheet Metal Forming

Additively manufactured polymer tools are evaluated for use in metal forming as prototype and the attempt to make sheet more attractive small production volumes. Printing materials, strategies accuracies presented before tested V-bending groove pressing of 1 mm aluminum sheets. The shows that change surface topography during until a steady state is reached at around five strokes. geometrical accuracy obtained by spring-back angle resulting bend radius, while bending 90° with three different punch nose radii. additional effects from elastic deflection tools, influence radius found be influenced printing strategy due ratio between tool printed solid shell thickness enclosing otherwise less dense bulk part tool. Groove combined effect heights angular changes spring-back. In all cases, repeatability discussed show potential corrections obtaining formed parts closer nominal values.