Impulse Hydroforming Method for Very Thin Sheets from Metallic or Hybrid Materials

Abstract

Forming of very thin metallic and hybrid material foils is a demanding task in several application areas as for example in food or pharmaceutical packaging industries. Narrow forming limits of very thin sheet metals as well as minor process reliability due to necessary exact tool manufacturing (small punch-die clearance), both, causes abiding interest in new and innovative forming processes. In this contribution a new method using high pressure pulses will be introduced to form small geometry elements into very thin metal foils or into hybrid polymer-metal foil. It will be shown how the acting pressure pulse will be generated by electromagnetic acceleration of a certain mass, which initiates a pressure wave within a working media. The effect of different pulse lengths has been compared and evaluated by the forming result. Finally, an outlook concerning suitable pulse power equipment and its industrial capability will be given.