Laser Bending of Thin Metal Sheet Plate Using a Low Output Power Laser Based Scanning System

Abstract

Laser forming of thin metal sheet plates using a low output power laser has been successfully performed using a scanning system. Graphite coated stainless steel plates, 0,3 mm thick, have been bent using a 60W CO2 laser with different scanning patterns, changing relevant variables such as scanning width and/or traverse speed. Due to the small thickness of the metal plates, the resultant bending mechanism is basically buckling, but with two critically important differences. Unlike traditional BM, it is possible to predict the direction of the bending, which will always be towards the energy source, even in the case of strongly pre-deformed samples. Additionally, we have found that using different scanning width, we can change the turn radius of the bending, obtaining very smooth corners, more suitable from a mechanical resistance point of view, rather than traditional sharp corners.