Single Point Incremental Forming of a Medical Implant

Single point incremental forming (SPIF) belongs to the branch of incremental sheet forming processes that enables plastic deformation of blanks without resorting to any specific die or punch. The main characteristics of SPIF determine its appropriateness for producing small batches or single products, being the medical implants one of the key potential fields of application, due to the need of product customization to each patient. Customization is particularly important for obtaining preoperative implants because it allows a significant decrease in the overall surgery time in conjunction with a higher level of flexibility to ensure the required shapes. This results in an improved final product either in aesthetic as well as in functional terms.