About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Forming and Joining of Advanced Sheet Metal Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
The Robocraftsman – Agile and Tool-less Metal Forming With Robotics and Artificial Intelligence |
| Author(s) |
Punnathat Bordeenithikasem, Babak Raeisinia |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Punnathat Bordeenithikasem |
| Abstract Scope |
Leveraging advances in robotics and AI, Machina Labs has developed containerized, rapidly-deployable, tool-less robotic metal forming systems (Robocraftsmans) to decouple manufacturing from material- and design-specific tooling and machinery. Using Robocraftsmans, the company has demonstrated agile, cost-effective manufacturing of various metallic articles while preserving digital manufacturing know-how indefinitely. This work examines Machina’s journey in transitioning a well-researched forming technique (incremental forming) into a commercial manufacturing solution serving markets such as aerospace, defense, automotive, architecture, and energy. Key considerations, including the role of public and private stakeholders, will be discussed. Case studies will highlight the company’s activities in cold forming of hard-to-form alloys and geometries. Part and process qualification, particularly for heat-treatable aluminum alloys and airworthiness, will be examined. Finally, the impact of “physical AI” on metal forming and the factories of the future will be explored. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Shaping and Forming, Aluminum, Mechanical Properties |