Plenary Lecture

Reconfigurable Multipiont Forming – A Competitive Manufacturing Process

Professor Viorel Paunoiu
Manufacturing Science and Engineering Department,
“Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, ROMANIA
E-mail: viorel.paunoiu@ugal.ro

Abstract: Reconfigurable multipoint forming (MPF - multi-point forming) is a flexible manufacturing technology which assures the production of a high sheet metals parts variety with low costs in comparison with the using of the monolithic dies. The main characteristic of the deformation method is given by the active surface discrete design of the forming elements which is composed from a number of pins, vertically aligned, according with the geometry of the part. An efficient control of the process parameters with implications on the part geometry could assure the process competitiveness. Conceptual models for multipoint forming dies reconfigurability based on the study of the rigid/elasto-plastic medii assembly behaviour and their application to design of the new controllable multipoint dies with flexibile interface are presented. For this two types of geometrical reconfiguration are presented. First type is based on a surface generation modeling which described a new algorithm for contact points calculus. This assure the primary configuration of the die. The second type are reffering to the deformed surfaces reconstruction using advanced reverse engineering based on points clouds inspection. This assure the further configuration of the die taking into account the springback compensation. The models are obtained through a set of simulations, using the finite element analysis. Knowing the relation between the input and output parameters, a control cycle could be applied for developing a sound product with desired geometry. The conceptual control cycle assures the connection beetwen the process parameter and the material response in multipoint deformation. From technologic point of view the major impact of applying such type of control will be the development of a new class of forming tool with superior performances.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Viorel Paunoiu graduated a 5 years Mechanical Engineering degree program at “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati (1984); PhD in Industrial Engineering - at “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati (1998); Training stages at: Ecole des Mines de Paris, CEMEF, Sophia-Antipolis – France (1992); University of Limerick – Irlanda (1998); University of Patras – Greece (2002), University Tor Vergata Roma – Italy (2007). Research fields: Computer aided design of equipments and technologies for plastic deformation; Numerical simulation of the plastic deformation processes; Unconventional technologies for plastic deformation; Energeticaly phenomenons study at manufacturing by plastic deformation (deep drawing, flow forming, extrusion).
Prof. PAUNOIU participated as director or member in over 35 research projects supported by Romanian Ministry of Education and Science; author/co-author of over 10 scientific or didactic books; over 100 scientific papers written or co-authored, published to International/ National Conferences proceedings (France, Hungary, Poland, USA, Moldavia) and Journals. Member of professional and scientific associations: ESAFORM – European Scientific Association for Metal Forming, Romanian Association for Non-Conventional Technologies - ARTN, Romanian Association of Tensometry - ARTENS.