Laser forming of thin foil by a newly developed sample holding method

Abstract

A sample holding method is newly developed for laser forming, which holds the target material between two transparent plates. During laser beam scanning on the target, the target foil is kept flat. After the scanning is ended, the foil is detached from the holder; the foil bends toward the beam scanned surface. Experiments are carried out by Nd:YAG laser beam with the holder. Bending angle of about 30 degrees is obtained for stainless steel (AISI 304) foil of 0.01 mm in thickness with the power of 0.4 W and the scanning repetition number of 20. On the other hand, if the laser beam is focused and scanned on the convex side along the ridgeline of a curved foil, it bends toward the concave side and the bending angle increases. The angle of about 20 degrees is obtained for stainless steel foil of 0.02 mm in thickness under the conditions of the power of 1.3 W and scanning repetition number of 10. When the beam is scanned 80 times, the bending angle increases to about 100 degrees. A micro cube, of which side is about 0.5 mm, and other objects of complicated shapes are made due to the bending characteristics experimentally obtained.A sample holding method is newly developed for laser forming, which holds the target material between two transparent plates. During laser beam scanning on the target, the target foil is kept flat. After the scanning is ended, the foil is detached from the holder; the foil bends toward the beam scanned surface. Experiments are carried out by Nd:YAG laser beam with the holder. Bending angle of about 30 degrees is obtained for stainless steel (AISI 304) foil of 0.01 mm in thickness with the power of 0.4 W and the scanning repetition number of 20. On the other hand, if the laser beam is focused and scanned on the convex side along the ridgeline of a curved foil, it bends toward the concave side and the bending angle increases. The angle of about 20 degrees is obtained for stainless steel foil of 0.02 mm in thickness under the conditions of the power of 1.3 W and scanning repetition number of 10. When the beam is scanned 80 times, the bending angle increases to about 100 degrees. A micro cube, of which side i...