Enhancing The Formability of SS304 in ISF via Pre-Heating Treatment Strategies

Muhammad Aqib Raza Shah, Agung Shamsuddin Saragih

Abstract


The growing demand for lightweight and high-strength components in automotive and aerospace industries has driven the adoption of Incremental Sheet Forming (ISF), a flexible and cost-effective process for low-volume production. However, limitations such as surface roughness, springback, and forming limits hinder its wider application. This study explores the impact of customized heat treatment on the dieless ISF of Stainless-Steel Grade 304 to enhance deformation quality. Sheets were preheated to temperatures ranging from 0°C to 700°C and formed using a CNC machine with a hemispherical tungsten carbide tool. Mechanical and microstructural evaluations, including tensile testing and surface roughness analysis, were conducted. The results show significant improvements: metal ductility increased from 24.28% to 65%, and surface roughness (Ra) decreased from 9.7993 µm to 5.4809 µm. The best deformation results were achieved with a step size of 0.3 mm, a feed rate of 180 mm/min, and a tool speed of 500 mm/min. These findings confirm that coupling heat treatment with ISF enhances formability, reduces defects, and contributes to the development of more efficient and adaptable metal forming strategies for advanced manufacturing.

Keywords


Incremental Sheet Forming (ISF); Stainless Steel Grade 304; Heat Treatment; Formability; Surface Quality; Mechanical Properties

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22441/ijimeam.v7i3.33596

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