US 12,358,093 B2
Incremental sheet forming systems and methods for forming structures having steep walls
Michael C. Elford, Springfield (AU)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/711,180.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/214,866, filed on Jun. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0410330 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B23Q 15/14 (2006.01); B23Q 15/12 (2006.01)
CPC B23Q 15/14 (2013.01) [B23Q 15/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for forming a structure, the system comprising:
a workpiece including a boundary region between an inner region and an outer region, the boundary region including a plurality of openings and a plurality of connecting elements that connect the portion to the remainder of the workpiece;
a die having a base, wherein the boundary region conforms to a perimeter of the base of the die;
a forming tool configured to operate on the portion after the boundary region has been cut into the workpiece; and
at least one control unit configured to command a position of the forming tool, wherein the at least one control unit is configured to operate the forming tool to form the inner region as the structure through one or more incremental sheet forming operations, and
wherein the boundary region and the outer region are configured to be removed from the structure after the inner region is formed as the structure.