Components of design for the superplastic forming process

The superplastic forming process is relatively new, and often under-exploited as designers tend to design to the limitations of the older longer established processes. To achieve the full potential of superplastic forming, designers must have access to easily available design tools to enable them to exploit the process. This paper examines the potential of elements of a design tool being developed to support designers in the adoption of superplastic forming. The design tool utilises web based technologies and has the potential to link complex representations of the behaviour of the workpiece being formed with design rules and process simulation packages.