Spline-Interpolation and Calculation of Machine Parameters for the Three-Roll-Pushbending of Spline-Contours

Today, bending tasks become more and more complex. Not even constant bending radii are required in the industrial practice. There is a growing demand for bending spline-contours, too. Such geometries are often produced with Freeform-Bending procedures like Three-Roll-Pushbending. This paper presents a method to interpolate a given spline bending-contour (by CAD data), in order to calculate its radii distribution, which is needed to determine the machine parameters in certain points for the Three-Roll-Pushbending. For the determination of the machine parameters one has to consider the different influences on the bending process. The material springback and the deflection of the bending machine per radius need to be compensated to reach a near net shape bending result. Nevertheless deviations cannot be avoided. To improve the results, a possibility to adjust the pre-calculated machine parameters is shown. For the investigations tube profiles with constant wall thicknesses were considered. The corresponding plasticity calculations refer to tube cross-sections. The results were validated by bending a representative spline contour on the bending machine of the Chair of Forming Technology at the University of Siegen.