Universal dies of controllable curvature

A forming process comprising:

• forming a part around one or more first universal dies, by a means applying forming force, to take a shape similar to that of the one or more first universal dies, wherein the one or more first universal dies contain one or more active areas with a first end having a cantilevered area fixed to a base plate near a location that is tangent to the part, and a second end coupled to a bending arm, wherein a curvature of the one or more active areas can be changed while the part is being formed by use of one or more actuators fixed to the baseplate which are acting on the bending arm to cause actuating forces and moments at the active areas that are more than die forces and moments at the active areas, that are caused by the forming force wherein the means of applying forming force acts through one or more second universal dies of shape that mate with the previously said one or more first universal dies, such that the part is clamped between the one or more active areas of the first and second universal dies to form the part to a local curvature of the one or more first and second universal dies, the one or more first and second universal dies and the means of applying forming force together comprising a station.