Development of Computer-Aided System to Generate Tool Path for Single Point Incremental Forming Process Using MATLAB

In the present paper, the work involved in generating tool paths for different part geometries using Single-point Incremental Forming (SPIF) process is discussed. The part geometries are cone, pyramid, cone with varying wall angle (with circular generatrix), pyramid with varying wall angle (with circular generatrix), hybrid shape (combination of cone and pyramid), hybrid shape with varying wall angle (with circular generatrix), parabolic and hemispherical. For this various SPIF process parameters were considered while developing MATLAB GUI based code. It takes SPIF parameters as inputs (geometric and forming parameters) for generating the required tool path. For the said geometries two tool path types are considered, i.e., incremental/profile and spiral/helical tool path. Tool path thus generated is first simulated using GWizardE (CNC program simulation software) and then validated using SPIF process setup. The said program can be used for tool path planning and generation for multistage Incremental Sheet Forming (ISF) process also. The present work is undertaken with the aim to reduce computational effort required for generating tool paths and to save time and cost for experimentation and research work in the domain of SPIF process.