Experimental study on edge effects of bending forming of sheet metal using plasma arc

When flexible forming of sheet metal using plasma arc scanning along a straight line, we find that the forming edge appears warping deformation and the bending angle varies along the scanning path, the phenomenas are defined as edge effects, which will reduce the accuracy of forming of sheet metal seriously. The edge effects and its formation laws that appear in negative bending and positive bending were experimental studied in the paper. The results showed that the middle position of the edge warps away from plasma arc and there is a visible pit on the bilateral planes of the edge of negative bending, the middle position of edge warps towards to plasma arc and there is a visible tuber on the bilateral planes of the edge of positive bending, the bending angles along the scanning path are inconsistent because of the warping edge. Finally, the influence of the edge effects on the circular surface forming was analyzed.