ABSTRACT
This chapter represents the meso- and microforming processes of sheet metals, including meso- and microbending, deep drawing, hydroforming, and sheet metal flexible forming by soft punch. It presents the state of the art of the four microsheet forming processes and introduces the characteristics of each process and forming parameters. Meso- and microscaled sheet forming provides an efficient solution. Comparing with the traditional sheet forming process with rigid tools, meso- and microscale flexible forming of sheet metals by soft punch have many advantages. In meso- and microforming of sheet metals using soft punch, there are two important interfaces, the interface between rigid punch and metal sheet; and the interface between soft punch and metal sheet. The experimental assembly for microforming of sheet metal by soft punch includes rigid punch, container, soft punch, metal sheet, rigid die, and die plate. In flexible meso- and microforming of sheet metals, flexible rubber materials are generally used as the soft punch.
