A reconfigurable stretch forming apparatus includes an array of pins adapted to be individually adjustable in height to define a reconfigurable forming surface, a pair of counter-rotating workpiece gripping devices being provided on opposite sides of the array of pins, each gripping device having an arcuate support surface for supporting a workpiece and a clamp member for clamping a work piece against the arcuate support surface, a driver being provided for rotating the counter-rotating gripping devices in opposing directions to stretch the work piece over the forming surface.

A reconfigurable stretch forming apparatus includes an array of pins adapted to be individually adjustable in height to define a reconfigurable forming surface, a pair of counter-rotating workpiece gripping devices being provided on opposite sides of the array of pins, each gripping device having an arcuate support surface for supporting a workpiece and a clamp member for clamping a work piece against the arcuate support surface, a driver being provided for rotating the counter-rotating gripping devices in opposing directions to stretch the work piece over the forming surface.

A sheet metal blank is formed into a helical turbine blade by stretching an outer portion of the blank by creating indents and detents thereon. Then the stretched side is flattened and the stretched structure is formed into a helical shape.

A sheet metal blank is formed into a helical turbine blade by stretching an outer portion of the blank by creating indents and detents thereon. Then the stretched side is flattened and the stretched structure is formed into a helical shape.

A tensioning device for a sheet of material that includes a first ring with protrusions, a second ring, and a shaft. The first ring and the second ring are positioned such that the sheet of material can be clamped between the first ring and the second ring. The shaft has an outer diameter, the outer diameter includes a spiral race such that the protrusions of the first ring follow the spiral race, allowing the first ring and the second ring to displace linearly causing the sheet of material to be stretched. The spiral race includes a plurality of notches that correspond to the protrusions.

An apparatus for forming a sector of an annular component having an arrangement for securely retaining at least a portion of a blank mountable thereon. The retaining arrangement is adapted for leaving a portion of the retainable blank accessible. A punch is provided having an external surface contour shaped to correspond to the shape of all or a part of the profile of the sector of the annular component from a trailing edge to a leading edge and/or from a leading edge to an inlet edge. The apparatus has a cooperating forming arrangement for forming the profile of the sector of the annular component from the leading edge to the inlet edge. The retaining arrangement is adapted for forming a clamping boundary enclosing the accessible part of the blank to be formed by the punch.

An apparatus for forming a sector of an annular component having an arrangement for securely retaining at least a portion of a blank mountable thereon. The retaining arrangement is adapted for leaving a portion of the retainable blank accessible. A punch is provided having an external surface contour shaped to correspond to the shape of all or a part of the profile of the sector of the annular component from a trailing edge to a leading edge and/or from a leading edge to an inlet edge. The apparatus has a cooperating forming arrangement for forming the profile of the sector of the annular component from the leading edge to the inlet edge. The retaining arrangement is adapted for forming a clamping boundary enclosing the accessible part of the blank to be formed by the punch.

Provided is a bending apparatus for a plate-shaped metal workpiece, including: a suction device (suction pad) configured to suck a surface of a plate-shaped metal workpiece in a removable manner; a plurality of expansion and contraction devices (servo screw jacks) each including the suction device mounted on a distal end thereof and being capable of expanding and contracting a length ranging from a proximal end thereof to the suction device; and an apparatus base (bed) on which the proximal end of each of the expansion and contraction devices is mounted. The bending apparatus is configured to form the plate-shaped metal workpiece under bending deformation by expanding and contracting the expansion and contraction devices under a state in which the suction device sucks the surface of the plate-shaped metal workpiece.

Provided is a bending apparatus for a plate-shaped metal workpiece, including: a suction device (suction pad) configured to suck a surface of a plate-shaped metal workpiece in a removable manner; a plurality of expansion and contraction devices (servo screw jacks) each including the suction device mounted on a distal end thereof and being capable of expanding and contracting a length ranging from a proximal end thereof to the suction device; and an apparatus base (bed) on which the proximal end of each of the expansion and contraction devices is mounted. The bending apparatus is configured to form the plate-shaped metal workpiece under bending deformation by expanding and contracting the expansion and contraction devices under a state in which the suction device sucks the surface of the plate-shaped metal workpiece.

A method of stretch forming a double curvature panel having corrugations or other surface features formed therein includes providing a reconfigurable forming surface defined by a flexible interpolator sheet mounted on an array of height adjustable pins, the interpolator sheet having a profiled upper surface adapted to form corrugations or other surface features in a workpiece as it is stretched over the forming surface, adjusting the height of each pin to suit the shape of the panel to be produced, placing a workpiece onto the forming surface, and stretching the workpiece over the forming surface such that the profiled upper surface of the interpolator sheet forms the desired corrugations or other surface features in the workpiece.