Abstract
Laser forming is an emerging manufacturing process capable of producing either uncomplicated and complicated shapes by employing a concentrated heating source. The heat source movement creates local softening, and a plastic strain will be induced during the rise of temperature and the subsequent cooling. This contactless forming process may be used for the simple bending of sheets and tubes or fabrication of doubly-curved parts. Different studies have been carried out over recent years to understand the mechanism of forming and predicting the bending angle. The analysis of process parameters and search for optimized manufacturing conditions are among the most discussed topics. This review describes the main recent findings in the laser forming of single and multilayer sheets, composite and fiber-metal laminate plates, force assisted laser bending, tube bending by laser beam, the optimization technique implemented for process parameters selection and control, doubly-curved parts, and the analytical solutions in laser bending. The main focus is set to the researches published since 2015.
Highlights
Sixty years have passed since the day Theodore H
By developing a new type of materials and parts like functionally graded materials (FGM), shaped memory alloys (SMA) parts, and powder metallurgy parts, more investigation is needed to understand the mechanism of bending by the laser beam
The main challenges in the analytical model are the determination of the laser forming mechanism (thermal gradient mechanism (TGM), buckling mechanism (BM), the upsetting mechanism (UM), among others), analytical definition of mechanical properties, non-linearity in geometry and properties, coupled thermal-structural analysis of bending, the effect of phase transformation, the residual stress remained in the workpiece, and stress relief during heating
Summary
Sixty years have passed since the day Theodore H. The ability for industrial applications varies from 100 W to more than 5 kW Forming is another type of process, which can be implemented by laser technology. The laser beam specifications, the scan pattern, and the properties of the sheet determine the final shape of the workpiece. Reasonable attempts have been made by researchers in recent years to investigate the effect of laser irradiation path on the quality, productivity, and shape of the final workpiece. Bending of small parts with little bending angle (less than 1◦ ), bending of complicated parts for aerospace industries such as tailor machined blanks (TMB), bending of low diameter tubes with minimum ovality and thickness variations, forming of composite parts with little delamination, and forming of doubly curved specimens to obtain the irradiating patterns which can be used in the flame forming of the dome and saddle-shaped parts in ship bodies are examples of the industrial applications of laser forming
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