Experimental research into microgroove stamping by laser-induced cavitation

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for forming a microgroove using laser-induced cavitation bubbles. The laser energy, foil thickness, and the initial position of the cavitation bubbles were varied to investigate the micro-formability of aluminum foils. The surface morphology of the microgroove formed in the metal foil was measured by a laser scanning confocal microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The laser-induced cavitation bubbles were recorded by a high-speed camera. The experimental results indicate that the depth and surface roughness increased with the laser energy. For the focal distance to Al foil of −0.9 mm, the surface of the metal foil was severely ablated and oxidized. The roughness decreased as the distance between the bubble center and the top of the guide hole increased. The forming depth of the groove is inconsistent, since the middle had a greater depth than the ends. This research may lead to a new method for stamping metal materials.