Stretch Sheet Forming Presses

Large aluminium forming solutions for aerospace.

ACB Aries Alliance specialists in Sheet Stretch forming and Linear friction welding

Stretch forming allows the manufacture of large aluminium parts with lower tooling costs as only a single run is required to form the part on a single die.

    STRETCH SHEET FORMING BENEFITS:

    • Improved performance & quality of shaped metal parts
    • Improved finished-product performance
    • Improved production speed, efficiency and parts repeatability
    • Greater part design flexibility
    • Reduced scrap rates
    • Reduced tooling costs

    SPECIFIC BENEFITS OF ACB PRESSES:

    ACB are world leaders in aerospace stretch sheet forming having developed  software for each forming process.

    ACB's unique FormCAM® part-forming software enables customers to design and manufacture dies and tooling from the component data for accurate component manufacturing. 

    This software is specific to ACB presses and not available on other manufacturers' equipment.

    It removes the need to rely on the operator throughout the manufacturing process, increasing reliability and optimising performance for each ship-set delivery.

    STRETCH SHEET FORMING PROCESS:

    The sheet is stretched around a tool through a traction force applied on the sheet. This force induces a traction stress in excess of the yield point of the material.

    Two processes can then be used, stretch draping or stretch wrapping:

    • Stretch drape forming process: the sheet to be formed is first draped around the tool and then stretched
    • Stretch wrap forming process: the sheet to be formed is first stretched and then wrapped around the tool

    SHEET STRETCH FORMING on site: 1500T Sheet Stretch Forming Press. St Nazaire France

    1500T Sheet Stretch Forming Press at St Nazaire France by ACB Presses

    A metal sheet can be stretched in 2 directions:

    Transversal direction (the jaws clamp the length sides on the sheet) 

    • Suitable for deep single or double curve parts (leading edges, saddles)
    • It is a more versatile process
    Longitudinal direction (the jaws clamp the width sides of the sheet)
    • Suitable for very long parts
    • Generally limited to shallow shapes

    ACB offers two sheet stretch forming machines, FET (Transversal direction) and FEL (longitudinal direction).

    For UK or EIRE enquiries relating to ACB Aries Alliance Stretch Forming presses please contact MikeB@M-TechUK.com