Incremental Profile Forming (IPF) is a recently introduced flexible tube forming technology, which allows the
manufacture of tubular structures with varying cross-sectional geometries along the longitudinal axis of the part.
The process is characterized mainly by the operation of several tools, laterally moving, indenting and deforming
the initial tubular workpiece. In kinematic IPF the use of universal tools with hemispheric tool shapes allow the
flexible manufacture of highly complex parts since its geometry is mainly defined by the tool motions. Thinning
of the tube material in the tool contact region is typical for kinematic IPF forming processes. In order to predict
the forming behavior, an analytical model is developed taking the tube dimensions, the tool geometry as well as
the tube material into account. Based on the predicted forming behavior, the process force during the indentation
process is also determined analytically. The validation of the analytical model is performed by experimental
and numerical investigations. After the geometrical analysis of the tool contact region and the tube
deformations, the plastic strain distribution in the forming zone is described, in order to predict the reduction of
the wall thickness. Furthermore, the analytical model allows the prediction of the forming force course over the
indenting depth for various process parameters