Incremental forming is a process of metal forming that applies small, localized deformations to gradually form a part and can create part geometry that would not otherwise be possible using dedicated dies. Incremental forming can be considered a flexible manufacturing process and may be used for prototypes and low-volume production.

Key Features

• Die-less Forming Process: Incremental forming utilizes a CNC-controlled tool to incrementally shape a sheet of metal within a die-less forming process, unlike traditional metal forming processes that utilize tooling.
• Complex Geometries: Incremental forming can be used to form asymmetric or complex-shaped parts such as aerospace panel parts or medical implants.
• Cost Saving for Low Volumes: One of the advantages of incremental forming for low volumes is there is no tooling cost or lead time associated with traditional tooling, which means custom or prototype parts can be produced quickly and at a lower cost than traditional processes.

Incremental forming offers can provide complex design freedom, which lends itself to applications in industries where custom parts are required, such as aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering. Incremental forming can be applied to many different types of metals, including aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel. Variants of incremental forming, such as Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) and Two Point Incremental Forming (TPIF), allow the user to have greater precision and control over the part accuracy and wall thickness. Incremental forming tends to be slower than traditional stamping; however, its flexibility, lower cost, and less scrap result in incremental forming being a modern forming method once relegated as a prototype process but now a viable production method.