Abstract: A method of separating a blank from a stack of blanks is provided and includes grasping a first blank and moving the first blank away from a plurality of blanks. At least one additional blank from the plurality of blanks is adhered to the first blank to form a sub-stack of blanks and at least one impulse electrically generated force (EGF) is applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank. The first blank may be grasped by a device with a force F1, and the at least one impulse EGF may be less than the force F1. Also, the at least one impulse EGF may be applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank by passing a pulse of current through an EGF generator positioned adjacent the first blank and inducing an EGF within the plurality of blanks.

Abstract: A method of separating a blank from a stack of blanks is provided and includes grasping a first blank and moving the first blank away from a plurality of blanks. At least one additional blank from the plurality of blanks is adhered to the first blank to form a sub-stack of blanks and at least one impulse electrically generated force (EGF) is applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank. The first blank may be grasped by a device with a force F1, and the at least one impulse EGF may be less than the force F1. Also, the at least one impulse EGF may be applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank by passing a pulse of current through an EGF generator positioned adjacent the first blank and inducing an EGF within the plurality of blanks.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a panel from a metal alloy sheet having known stress-strain forming properties including a forming strain limit that is exceeded when a single forming operation is used to form the panel. The method comprises determining a stress relieving treatment and an incremental forming treatment for forming the panel. The total incremental forming strain comprises a first strain increment. The stress relieving treatment results in the total incremental forming strain remaining within the forming strain limit. A first preform shape is determined in which the geometry of the shape does not exceed the first strain increment. The sheet is formed into the first preform shape. The first preform shape is then stress relieved. The first preform shape is then formed into a panel shape having a geometry that is within the total incremental forming strain.