# US 2014/0150510 A1 · System and method for incremental forming > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150510 A1 - Document ID: US20140150510A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/667,846 - Filed: 2012-11-02 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-04 - Assignees: The Penn State Research Foundation; Northwestern University - Applicants: The Penn State Research Foundation; Northwestern University - Inventors: Michael Beltran; Jian Cao; John T. Roth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150510A1 ## CPC - B21D 31/005: {Incremental shaping or bending, e.g. stepwise moving a shaping tool along the surface of the workpiece (B21D22/14 takes precedence)} - B21D 37/16: Heating or cooling - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract A system includes a frame configured to hold a workpiece and first and second tool positioning assemblies configured to be opposed to each other on opposite sides of the workpiece. The first and second tool positioning assemblies each include a toolholder configured to secure a tool to the tool positioning assembly, a first axis assembly, a second axis assembly, and a third axis assembly. The first, second, and third axis assemblies are each configured to articulate the toolholder along a respective axis. Each axis assembly includes first and second guides extending generally parallel to the corresponding axis and disposed on opposing sides of the toolholder with respect to the corresponding axis. Each axis assembly includes first and second carriages articulable along the first and second guides of the axis assembly, respectively, in the direction of the corresponding axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a frame configured to hold a work piece; and first and second tool positioning assemblies coupled with the frame, the first and second tool positioning assemblies configured to be opposed to each other on opposite sides of the work piece, each tool positioning assembly comprising: a tool holder configured to secure a tool to the tool positioning assembly; a first axis assembly configured to articulate the tool holder along a first axis, the first axis assembly comprising first and second guides, the first and second guides of the first axis assembly extending generally parallel to the first axis and disposed on opposing sides of the tool holder with respect to the first axis, the first axis assembly comprising first and second carriages articulable along the first and second guides of the first axis assembly, respectively, in the direction of the first axis; a second axis assembly configured to articulate the tool holder along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the second axis assembly comprising first and second guides, the first and second guides of the second axis assembly extending generally parallel to the second axis and disposed on opposing sides of the tool holder with respect to the second axis, the second axis assembly comprising first and second carriages articulable along the first and second guides of the second axis assembly, respectively, in the direction of the second axis; and a third axis assembly configured to articulate the tool holder along a third axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and substantially perpendicular to the second axis, the third axis assembly comprising first and second guides, the first and second guides of the third axis assembly extending generally parallel to the third axis and disposed on opposing sides of the tool holder with respect to the third axis, the third axis assembly comprising first and second carriages articulable along the first and second guides of the third axis assembly, respectively, in the direction of the third axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises at least one of a substantially hemispheric surface, a conical surface, or a freeform surface configured to engage the work piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a current source configured to deliver a current passing between the tool holder of the first tool positioning assembly and the tool holder of the second tool positioning assembly, wherein the current passes through the work piece when a first tool secured to the first tool holder and a second tool secured to the second tool holder engage the work piece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second tool positioning assemblies comprises: a tool holder frame movably coupled to the first and second guides of one of the first axis assembly, second axis assembly, or third axis assembly, the tool holder frame configured to translate substantially along the first and second guides; and an insulating member interposed between the tool holder frame and the tool holder, the insulating member configured to insulate the tool holder frame from the current passing between the tool holder of the first tool positioning assembly and the tool holder of the second tool positioning assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the insulating member comprises a ceramic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising at least one of a temperature detection unit or a displacement detection unit, the temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature distribution corresponding to at least one of the tool and the work piece as the current passes between the tool holder of the first tool positioning assembly and the tool holder of the second tool positioning assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the temperature detection unit comprises a thermal imaging camera. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising a control module configured to receive temperature information from the temperature detection unit and to control the articulation of one or more of the first tool or the second tool responsive to the temperature information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second carriages of the first axis assembly are configured to be coupled to and to support the second axis assembly, the first and second carriages of the second axis assembly are configured to be coupled to and to support the third axis assembly, and the tool holder is operably connected to the third axis assembly whereby the tool holder articulates with the third axis assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a first drive assembly operably coupled to at least one of the first and second guides of the first axis assembly, the first drive assembly configured to articulate the first and second carriages of the first axis assembly along the first and second guides of the first axis assembly; a second drive assembly operably coupled to at least one of the first and second guides of the second axis assembly, the second drive assembly configured to articulate the first and second carriages of the second axis assembly along the first and second guides of the second axis assembly; and a third drive assembly operably coupled to at least one of the first and second guides of the third axis assembly, the third drive assembly configured to articulate the first and second carriages of the third axis assembly along the first and second guides of the third axis assembly. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a frame configured to hold a work piece; first and second tool positioning assemblies coupled with the frame, the first and second tool position assemblies configured to be opposed to each other on opposite sides of the work piece; the first tool positioning assembly including a first tool holder configured to secure a first tool; the second tool positioning assembly including a second tool holder configured to secure a second tool; and a current source configured to deliver a current, wherein the first and second tool holders are configured to receive the current from the current source and to pass the current between the first and second tool holders and through the work piece when the first tool and the second tool engage the work piece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second tool positioning assemblies comprises: a tool holder frame movably coupled to a support structure of the tool positioning assembly; an insulating member interposed between the tool holder frame and the one of the first and second tool holders associated with the tool positioning assembly, the insulating member configured to insulate the tool holder frame from the current passing between the first tool holder and the second tool holder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the insulating member comprises a ceramic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature distribution corresponding to at least one of the tool and the work piece as the current passes between the first tool holder and the second tool holder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the temperature detection unit comprises a thermal imaging camera. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a control module configured to receive temperature information from the temperature detection unit and to control the articulation of one or more of the first tool or the second tool responsive to the temperature information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat treatment module configured to heat treat the work piece during a forming operation. ### Claim 18 A method for forming a work piece comprising: securing the work piece in a frame: drawing opposing first and second tools toward each other wherein the first tool engages a first side of the work piece and the second tool engages a second, opposite side of the work piece; passing a current between the first and second tools, wherein the current passes through the work piece; and articulating at least one of the first and second tools while the first and second tools engage the work piece and the current passes through the work piece. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a temperature distribution of one or more of the work piece or one or more of the first and second tools. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the determining a temperature distribution comprises observing the one or more of the work piece or one or more of the first and second tools with a thermal imaging camera. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling the articulating of the at least one of the first and second tools responsive to the temperature distribution. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the articulating the at least one of the first and second tools comprises articulating a tool holder securing the at least one of the first and second tools, the tool holder secured to an assembly including a first gantry-style axis assembly configured to articulate the tool holder along a first axis, a second gantry-style axis assembly configured to articulate the tool holder along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and a third gantry style axis assembly configured to articulate the tool holder along a third axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and substantially perpendicular to the second axis.