Abstract
In contrast to traditional manufacturing applications, small-scale manufacturing processes usually require sophisticated equipment which is generally associated with high costs and low productivity. Current trends suggest manufacturing metallic parts by ‘microforming’. Microforming is a well suited technology, in particular in case of mass production, of very small metallic parts required in many industrial products and resulting from widespread application of micro technology. Fundamental issues and problems in the micro world are connected with processes, forming tools, construction of the machines, handling of micro parts, equipment and also with material. The dimensions of micro machines are much smaller than those of conventional large-scale presses. The development of such machines has attracted a lot of interest from researchers for many years. The purpose of this study was to optimize a tool system concept and to investigate its stiffness. FEM analysis was carried out to receive the theoretical stiffness. For receiving experimental stiffness laser interferometer was used. Based on experimental and FEM results it can be concluded that the designed tool system is useful for microforming processes.