F173: Transformative Trends in Automated Sheet Forming: Pioneering the Next Era in Manufacturing

Traditional manufacturing production lines are designed for specific components or products, rendering them obsolete with any alterations. Nevertheless, emerging alternatives are on the horizon. AI and robotics applications are stepping up to address the challenges of custom and expensive tooling. The advent of dieless robotic sheet-forming processes offers a solution by reducing part production time, eliminating the need for costly mold and die design and manufacturing. This process also opens the door to optimized designs that were previously impractical. The presenter will delve into the capabilities of material- and geometry-agnostic technology, surpassing traditional sheet metal methods. He can elaborate on how dieless robotic sheet forming processes dramatically cut down the time to produce the first part from months to minutes, resulting in substantial cost savings of up to $1 million per design.