Investigation on multiple bending using laser forming of mild steel plate and its bend angle prediction

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. During the process, the material deforms because of compressive stress generated in the underneath region due to the thermal expansion of the irradiated region. This study focuses on the multiple bending and the effect of different process parameters on the laser bending of the sheet. Experiments were performed on 4 mm and 8 mm thick sheets of mild steel sheet of grade IS 2062 E250 using a 2-kW fiber laser with various influencing parameters such as power, scan speed, and laser spot diameter. Hardness and grain size measurements of laser-formed surfaces at different combinations of influencing parameters were performed and the features formed due to laser irradiation were analyzed. An artificial neural network (ANN) model is proposed to predict the bend angle value. © The Author(s) 2025 SAGE Publications