Incremental forming is a new manufacturing method designed to create large thermoplastic composite laminate structures. These large laminates can be made utilizing small to medium sized equipment. The equipment and the operating parameters for successful incremental forming were developed. Thermoplastic laminate parts were made utilizing the incremental forming method and the properties were compared to parts of the same shape made using matched die molding. The areas of comparison were mechanical properties, physical qualities (surface quality), and uniformity of manufac ture The results revealed that the incremental forming process created parts of high mechanical integrity, excellent physical quality and good uniformity.
