It appears that automated sheet metal forming as an alternative to stamping is becoming a reality. The current offerings use a robotic arm holding a spherical tool to progressively deform sheet metal. The process continually tap tap taps the sheet metal while sensors observe its progress and compare it to the computerized model held in memory.
The companies building these machines claim they can form any type of sheet metal. I have no idea what the current limits are, but if 3D printing and CAD-CAM are any indication these machines will get better and less expensive as industries learn how to adapt them to their needs. I picture job shops which will do the forming on contract so each business does not need to own the latest model. If the pipeline is fairly quick (big if) it could reduce the need for inventorying a wide range of parts. Instead they could be “print on demand”. Of course, this currently creates parts, not entire assemblies. So the fuel tank would still need to be welded (or glued) together.
Welcome to the second quarter of the 21st century. Old Henry would resist the whole thing, but Edsel might embrace it.
https://industryinsider.eu/metalwork...g-sheet-metal/