Curved folding has a sunny future
A manufacturing technique that allows complex sheet metal forms to be created could make green energy more affordable to the homeowner
.
Wandsworth based Robofold, which have developed the technique, said: “We are talking to a major aluminium producer about using the technology to make solar concentrator reflectors,” for carbon free power generation and for making products for use in the built environment.
The technology was revealed in the August 2007 edition of Eureka and is of particular interest in production processes that require a number of precision curves and bends. The company also said it had been, “supplying samples to premium automotive manufacturers,” and has had interest from one UK-based construction company.
Aluminium sheets are scored and then bent to shape by the three Staubli Automation RX130 robots under the control of Visual Components software. Chief executive Gregory Epps said: “We have modified it so that it can reverse engineer the toolpaths from a 3D scan. The next stage is to do this with CAD software. So we are developing CAD plug-ins and spring back prediction software.”
It has also been successfully applied to galvanised and stainless steel sheet metal.
