SHAPING DUCTILE SHEET MATERIAL SHAPING DUCTILE SHEET MATERIAL

摘要

A method of and apparatus for shaping ductile sheet material to three-dimensional shapes having curved surfaces. The sheet material is bent to have a curved surface and is thereafter bent to have a further curved surface intersecting the first curved surface such that the bend takes place along a bend zone in in which the curved surfaces meet. The apparatus comprises a former shaped to have at least two curved surfaces intersecting in a former bend zone. Clamping means is provided and is adapted to clamp a length of ductile sheet material in curved shape against a first one of said curved surfaces of the former such that a a predetermined portion of the sheet material projects beyond the former bend zone. The former is displaceable towards an anvil having a curved shape complementary to the second curved surface of the former. The former and anvil are capable of shaping the sheet material between them upon displacement of the former and anvil towards each other, thereby causing the sheet material to bend around the former bend zone.