Laser Forming
and Laser Correction of Distortions
Laser Forming and Laser Correction of Distortions
Laser forming (LF) of sheet metal components and
tubes requires no hard tooling and external forces and therefore suited for
die-less rapid prototyping and low-volume, high-variety production of sheet
metal and tube components. It has potential applications in aerospace,
shipbuilding, automobile, and other industries. It can also be used for
correcting and repairing sheet metal components, such as, pre-welding
“fit-up” and post-welding “tweaking.” Laser tube bending involves no wall
thinning, little ovality, and annealing effects, which makes it easier to
work on high work-hardening materials such as titanium and nickel
super-alloys. Groups let by Prof. Vollertsen in Germany as well as at
University of Liverpool in UK did much research on LF.
Our focus has been on (1) extending the LF
capability from simple 2D shapes to general 3D shapes, especially
double-curved shape; (2) prediction of microstructure change and its effects
on deformation; and (3) extending from process analysis to process synthesis
and optimization. Supported by a grant under the Advanced Technology
Program (ATP) at NIST, we teamed with GE Global Research, Caterpillar Tech
Center and other two companies and embarked on a project on laser forming of
complex shapes. |
