Thin-Sheet-Metal Bending by Laser Peen Forming with Femtosecond Laser

A femtosecond laser is a type of ultrashort-pulse laser. Femtosecond laser irradiation induces high-pressure plasma and shock waves at the surface of a target. Under some irradiation conditions, such shock waves are enough to deform the target plastically. Laser peen forming is a type of sheet metal forming using this deformation by shock waves. The author adopted laser peen forming using femtosecond laser for thin-sheet-metal bending. Generally, shock waves induced in air are much smaller than those induced in water, and thus; are unfavorable for plastic deformation. However, the shock waves induced by a femtosecond laser were enough to bend a thin sheet metal even in air. Elastic pre-bending was adopted during the process. Bending angle was increased by applying pre-bending. The effects of laser irradiation conditions on bending efficiency were investigated. The large spot diameter and high fluence improved bending efficiency.