| Abstract Scope |
Established forming processes in the automotive industry are used for series with annual production runs of more than 100,000 units. Until now, there has been a lack of forming technologies for the economical production of batch sizes below 50,000 units. This trend is also changing production. Swivel bending is suitable as a flexible and low-tool process to produce variable cross-section geometries. The manufacturing technology developed for 3D-swivel-bending significantly expands the application possibilities of the basic process by enabling the production of non-linear, three-dimensional bending edges, to manufacture cross-section-variable and load-adapted components. The process is designed to be scalable and thus adjustable for processing variable workpiece thicknesses, materials and springback behavior. With additively manufactured joint structures, the effective surfaces of the tools can be adapted to individual requirements. The joint structures can also be manufactured as a print-in-place solution within a significantly shorter product development process. |