Laser forming of heavy vehicles bracket and in-situ monitoring

Abstract

In manufacturing industries like shipbuilding, automotive, microelectronics, and aerospace, laser forming is a potential new technology. Laser forming is an intricate thermo-mechanical process in which the process mechanisms are determined by the temperature profile across the sheet thickness, which is influenced by laser power, scan speed, number of passes, laser beam diameter, and workpiece geometry. The sheet bends due to compressive stress generated in the underlying region and differences in shrinkage of the region along the sheet thickness. The thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heat capacity of the material are the most significant factor for bending.