Investigation into reduction of die-cavity deflection in micro-hydroforming processes using FEA

摘要

Within the field of micro-technology, merchandised products as well as research activities show an important demand for complex-shaped tubular micro-components, for example, for medical devices or micro-fluidic applications. Concerning such micro-components made from metal materials, manufacturing techniques for the economic mass production of adequate tubular parts are often missing. Hydroforming, as a proven technology in the mass production of conventional-size components, offers miscellaneous advantages also for micro-part manufacture. However, due to the comparatively large forming loads involved, strategies for compensation of the elastic deflection of the forming tool elements resulting from these loads are particularly of interest when greater accuracy of the forming operation is required. Against this background, this paper presents a strategy to reduce elastic tool deflection in micro-hydroforming processes, verified by systematic finite element simulations.