An approach to form the dome shape by 3D laser forming

Abstract

Application of a thermal source in non-contact forming of sheet metal is known for some time. Replacement of this thermal source with a laser beam promises the much greater controllability of the process. To date, research focuses on dealing with rectangular plates, and only a few studies are presented for axis-symmetric geometries like circular plates. This study presents the work to get the dish or bowl shape by an initially flat circular plate. Two different scanning strategies circular and radial are attempted to get the desired dish shape. Following the unexpected distortion throughout the plate, a second series of experiments are conducted on a wide range of specimen geometries. An interesting phenomenon is observed. It is suggested that homogeneous dissemination of heat along with combined form of both of the scanning strategies, could have more potential to form dome shape. © 2013 Chinese Optics Letters.