Determining optimized radial scan path in 3D laser forming of steelAISI 304 plates to produce bowl shapes

Abstract

Determining an appropriate scanning pattern to achieve the final desired shape is the most significant factor in 3D laser forming process. In this manuscript, attempts are made to propose the optimum radial scanning path, which produces bowl shapes. The radial scanning pattern could be used to form the bowl shapes from the circular blanks. This pattern is categorized into two groups, whether the laser scan path crosses the center of the circular plate or not. In cross scan path, three patterns of diagonal scan, convergent radial scan, and divergent radial scan are proposed. Besides, in non-cross scan path, three patterns of non-cross scan without angular step, convergent scan path with 30-degree angular step, and divergent scan path with 30-degree angular step are introduced. Based on the numerical results, convergent radial path and convergent radial path with 30-degree angular step, respectively, are selected as the best scan patterns of cross and non-cross scan lines. In the experiments, these two scan patterns were implemented on the plate surface of AISI 304 plates. Measurements showed that the non-cross convergent radial scan path with 30-degree angular step produces the most uniform final bowl shapes.