• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2014

Flexibly-reconfigurable roll forming (FRRF), which is a sheet forming process for multi-curved sheet metal, may solve both the economic and technical problems incurred in using a conventional die forming process. In the FRRF process, the multi-curved sheet metal is formed by different strain distributions on the sheet metal, and the reconfigurable rollers are used as tools during the forming. Therefore, a thorough investigation focused on the reconfigurable rollers is required for the realization of the FRRF process prior to the fabrication of FRRF machine. In the current study, a series of finite element simulations were conducted to study the load distributions experienced by the reconfigurable roller. In order to verify the shape design variables, the effect of the metal thickness on the curvatures of sheet is also presented.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.341-347
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• 2017

Flexibly-reconfigurable roll forming (FRRF) is a novel sheet metal forming technology conducive to produce multi-curvature surfaces by controlling strain distribution along longitudinal direction. Reconfigurable rollers could be arranged to implement a kind of punch die set. By utilizing these reconfigurable rollers, desired curved surface can be formed. In FRRF process, three-dimensional surface is formed from two-dimensional curve. Thus, it is difficult to predict the forming result. In this study, a regression analysis was suggested to construct a predictive model for a longitudinal curvature of FRRF process. To facilitate investigation, input parameters affecting the longitudinal curvature of FRRF were determined as maximum compression value, curvature radius in the transverse direction, and initial blank width. Three-factor three-level full factorial experimental design was utilized and 27 experiments using FRRF apparatus were performed to obtain sample data of the regression model. Regression analysis was carried out using experimental results as sample data. The model used for regression analysis was a quadratic nonlinear regression model. Determination factor and root mean square root error were calculated to confirm the conformity of this model. Through goodness of fit test, this regression predictive model was verified.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2016

Sheet metals are often required to be formed into three dimensional curved shapes for use as skin structures. As a result various sheet metal forming methods, such as press die forming, stretch forming, and line heating have been used over the years in industrial production lines. Although they are extensively used in industry, these methods are not suitable for small quantity batch productions. Studies have been conducted to improve or replace these methods with plausible flexible forming technologies. As a part of these studies, we developed a new and more efficient forming device named flexibly-reconfigurable roll forming (FRRF). The current study presents the process development and experimental verification for the applicability of this device. To improve the efficiency of the FRRF apparatus, several hardware components were invented and a suitable operating program was developed using MFC of visual C++. The ways to make the FRRF apparatus fully functional are also described. Sheet metal was formed into three dimensional shapes using the FRRF apparatus and the final products are presented as evidence for the applicability of the developed device.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2016

Flexibly-reconfigurable roll forming (FRRF) is a novel sheet metal forming technology conducive to producing multi-curvature surfaces by controlling the strain distribution along longitudinal direction. In FRRF, a sheet metal is shaped into the desired curvature by using reconfigurable rollers and gaps between the rollers. As FRRF technology and equipment are under development, a simulation model corresponding to the physical FRRF would aid in investigating how the shape of a sheet varies with input parameters. To facilitate the investigation, the current study exploits regression analysis to construct a predictive model for the longitudinal curvature of the sheet. Variables considered as input parameters are sheet compression ratio, radius of curvature in the transverse direction, and initial blank width. Samples were generated by a three-level, three-factor full factorial design, and both convex and saddle curvatures are represented by a quadratic regression model with two-factor interactions. The fitted quadratic equations were verified numerically with R-squared values and root mean square errors.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.168-173
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• 2017

A new sheet metal forming process, called flexibly reconfigurable roll forming (FRRF), is expected to resolve the economical limitation of the existing 3D curved sheet metal forming processes. The height-controllable guides and a couple of flexible rollers are utilized as the forming tool. Recently, as the 3D curved sheet metal is increasingly demanded in various fields, the application of FRRF to diverse materials is necessary. In addition, the formability comparison of several materials is needed. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the applicability of FRRF for different materials such as aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys, and also the formability of these materials was compared using FRRF. The numerical simulation was conducted using ABAQUS, the commercial software, and the experiments were carried out using an FRRF apparatus to validate the simulation results. Finally, the applicability of FRRF for the chosen materials and the formability of these materials on FRRF process were confirmed by comparing the simulation and experimental results.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2016

Press machines and dies are commonly used for 3D curved sheet forming. Using conventional die forming can cause economic problems since various modifications of the die shape are required depending on the product shape. Various types of flexible forming such as multi-point dieless forming (MDF), flexible incremental roll forming have been developed to improve the needed process flexibility. Although MDF can reduce the production cost using reconfigurable dies, it still has significant material loss. Drawbacks such as wrinkling, dimpling, and forming errors can also occur despite continuous investigations to mitigate these defects. A novel sheet forming process for 3D curved surfaces, a flexibly-reconfigurable roll forming (FRRF), has been recently proposed to overcome the economic and technical limitations of current practice. FRRF has no limitation on blank size in the longitudinal direction, and also minimizes or eliminates forming defects such as wrinkling and dimpling. Feasibility studies of FRRF have been conducted using FE simulations for multi-curved shapes and various sheet thicknesses. Therefore, the fabrication of a FRRF apparatus is required for any follow-up studies. In the current study, experiments with reconfigurable rollers were conducted using a simple design pre-FRRF apparatus prior to fabricating the full size FRRF apparatus. There are three candidates for the reconfigurable roller: a bar-type shaft, a flexible shaft, a ground flexible shaft. Among these candidates, the suitable reconfigurable roller for FRRF is determined through various forming tests.