Laser peen forming for 2D shaping and micro adjustment Available to Purchase

Laser peen forming has been carried out on 0.075mm thick steel samples, using relatively low power Nd:YAG lasers at 1064nm, 532nm and 355nm wavelengths. The process was found to produce a bend angle up to approximately 20 degrees, depending upon the amount of passes and laser parameters used. The results from these experiments have been compared to samples formed using continuous wave thermal forming. The results showed that laser peen forming could take place with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, which uses less energy than a laser used for thermal forming, and that the laser peen formed samples do not have evidence of heat affected zones or changes to the bulk material, both seen with laser thermal forming. This indicates that the laser peen forming process is largely athermal or non-thermal, as there is very little heat input into the samples except for decolorisation of the surface due to the plasma generated in the process. A parameter window has been established for laser peen forming on 0.075mm thick steel using a 1064nm wavelength. The effect that the process has on the surface of the material is also being analysed using optical interferomety and scanning probe microscopy.