Creating customisable surfaces for forming applications

Abstract

A method of creating a forming surface 30 for use in a manufacturing process, the method comprising: providing a print bed 12 defining a first printing surface and comprising a plurality of actuatable support members 40 which are independently movable in a first direction relative to the print bed; providing at least one forming element 28 provided over at least one of the actuatable support members; and moving at least one of the actuatable support members over which a forming element has been provided in the first direction to a forming position in order to create the forming surface. Preferably, the print bed comprises a board and the support members comprise an array of pins received within apertures in the board. The step of providing the forming element(s) is preferably via an additive manufacturing process, and may comprise printing or depositing the forming elements. A method of making a moulded component using the forming surface as a mould such as for vacuum forming a sheet is provided; as is a method of making an additively manufactured component comprising 3D printing, depositing or otherwise additively manufacturing a component using the forming surface as a printing surface. Figure 4