Electromagnetic Forming (EMF) Technologies - Historical Development and Current Trends

Electromagnetic forming is a high-speed forming technology that can be used for shaping, joinin and cutting electrically conductive workpiece materials. In the presentation the historical development of the technology is presented, starting with the discovery of the physical mechanism and the first suggestion of a technological application in the form of a patent. The interest in the process over the time is reflected by qualitative evaluation of the number of publications. Thereby, the process is regarded in general as well as considering specific fileds as - process development, - coil development, - simulation, - joining and cutting applications, and - process combinations. Selected developments in these individual fields made by different research institutions are summarized and complemented by research topics and project of the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU).