Just like Netflix, Facebook , Google and Uber have revolutionized the way we have fun, we research, we locomove, likewise, traditional forms of production and manufacturing are in a phase of strong change and technological transition.
How does CAD technology advance, FALLS OFF, CAM and CNC machines, new production concepts are changing the way we produce and process our consumer goods. A strong trend in this direction, without a doubt, is powder metallurgy, that within the most diverse processing techniques (HP, MIM, HIP, MA, Sintering, among others) has found a large market niche with a strong growth trend, mainly in the automotive industry.
In the same segment as 3D printing and additive manufacturing, incremental stamping has drawn the attention of industries and universities to the countless possibilities that this technology can provide. Is that you, ever heard of incremental stamping?
This process was patented by Edward Leszak in 1967, consisting of stamping a flat plate through multiple passes, using a traditional CNC system. Through a tool, the plate is formed, according to the programmed geometry, until reaching the final projected shape.
Incremental stamping dispenses with the design of traditional stamping, offering a level of free customization using the same tool. Although, the low productivity of currently developed systems directs the use of this technology to production systems where the main focus is personalized production, such as the medical and automotive areas.
One of the main automakers in the world that has been using this technology to validate and accelerate the development of their projects is Ford. Check out the video below and you will understand why this important automaker invested in incremental stamping to produce its prototypes!
No brazil, incremental stamping has been the subject of research and development, mainly in academia.. Good works were developed at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and the Faculdade Satc in Santa Catarina, including the design and development of a dedicated machine for this innovative technology.