Experimental and numerical study of spiral scan paths on cap laser forming

Laser forming is a new technology in sheet metal forming process, which has different applications for the industries that have previously used large tools for this purpose. Important parameters for achieving the desirable shape in laser forming process are scan speed, laser power, and scan pattern type. In this paper, finite element method simulation was done to study effect of different scan path to obtain shape of cap from a circular plate. Then, results of different scan paths were compared with each other at same condition. Comparing radius, curvatures, and edge distortion for different scan paths showed that spiral paths produced better caps than circular ones owing to their continuity. The experiments were performed using parameters of full Fermat's scan path that obtained appropriate from simulations. Comparison between simulation and experimental results has shown good agreement. (C) 2014 Laser Institute of America.