Path Planner for Intelligent Laser Surface Modification

An optimal algorithm of manufacturing path planner for intelligent laser surface modification is presented. Elements included in the optimal objective have been analyzed. A 6-D manufacture trace that satisfies the requirements of special craft and 5-axis laser processing robot system has been generated from the path planner by method of parallel section in which combinations of modification spots size with curvature of processing surfaces and modification craft parameters are considered. Related experiments have been successfully carried out with the computer integrated multifunctional laser manufacturing system.

Digitized Processing Track Generation of a Computer Integrated Multi-Functional 5-Axis Laser Processing System

Based on the computer integrated and flexible laser processing system, an intelligent measuring sub-system was developed. A novel model has been built up to compensate the deviations of the main frame-structure, and a new 3-D laser tracker system is applied to adjust the accuracy of the system. To analyze the characteristic of all kind surfaces of automobile outer penal moulds and dies, classification of types of the surface、brim and ridge(or vale) area to be measured and processed has been established, resulting in one of the main processing functions of the laser processing system. According to different type of surfaces, a 2-D adaptive measuring method based on B?zier curve was developed; furthermore a 3-D adaptive measuring method based on Spline curve was also developed. According to the laser materials processing characteristics and data characteristics, necessary methods have been developed to generate processing tracks, they are explained in details. Measuring experiments and laser processing experiments were carried out to testify the above mentioned methods, which have been applied in the computer integrated and flexible laser processing system developed by the Institute of Mechanics, CAS.

Transient Temperature Distribution in a Sheet Metal by Low-Energy Laser Scanning

Low-energy laser-heating techniques are widely used in engineering applications such as, thinfilm deposition, surface treatment, metal forming and micro-structural pattern formation. In this paper,under the conditions of ignoring the thermo-mechanical coupling, a numerical simulation on the spatialand temporal temperature distribution in a sheet metal produced by the laser beam scanning in virtue of thefinite element method is presented. Both the three-dimensional transient temperature field and thetemperature evolution as a function of heat penetrating depth in the metal sheet are calculated. Thetemperature dependence of material properties was taken into account. It was shown that, after taking thetemperature dependence of the material absorbance effect into consideration, the temperature change ratealong the scanning direction and the temperature maximum were both increased.

Numerical Simulation of Pulsed Laser Transformation Hardening

A novel pulsed laser surface processing technology is introduced, which can make use of the spatial and temporal profile of laser pulse to obtain ideal hardening parameters. The intensity distribution of laser pulse is spatially and temporally controlled by using laser shape transformation technology. A 3D numerical model including multi-phase transformations is established to explore material microstructure evolution induced by temperature field evolution. The influences of laser spatial-temporal profiles on hardening parameters are investigated. Different from the continuous laser processing technology, results indicate that spatial and temporal profiles are important factors in determining processing quality during pulsed laser processing method.

Numeric Calculation for Transient Thermal Stress Field in Wall-Shape Metal Part During Laser Direct Forming

In order to investigate the transient thermal stress field in wall-shape metal part during laser direct forming, a FEM model basing on ANSYS is established, and its algorithm is also dealt with. Calculation results show that while the wall-shape metal part is being deposited, in X direction, the thermal stress in the top layer of the wall-shape metal part is tensile stress and in the inner of the wall-shape metal part is compressive stress. The reason causing above-mentioned thermal stress status in the wall-shape metal part is illustrated, and the influence of the time and the processing parameters on the thermal stress field in wall-shape metal part is also studied. The calculation results are consistent with experimental results in tendency.

Remark on Laser Bending Mechanisms

Laser bending mechanism is remarked, and its essence is the temperature gradient mechanism. The reverse bending and the thickened mechanisms are included in the temperature gradient mechanism because they are only different phenomena based on different thickness of the material. Experimental result shows that there is a kind of un-convention temperature distribution in the limit thickness specimen under laser irradiation. This phenomenon cannot be explained by the classical Fourier Law and is defined as Pan-Fourier effect in order to explain laser bending mechanism further.

Modified Simplified Rate Equation Model of Flowing Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser and its Application

A modified simplified rate equation (RE) model of flowing chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL), which is adapted to both the condition of homogeneous broadening and inhomogeneous broadening being of importance and the condition of inhomogeneous broadening being predominant, is presented for performance analyses of a COIL. By using the Voigt profile function and the gain-equal-loss approximation, a gain expression has been deduced from the rate equations of upper and lower level laser species. This gain expression is adapted to the conditions of very low gas pressure up to quite high pressure and can deal with the condition of lasing frequency being not equal to the central one of spectral profile. The expressions of output power and extraction efficiency in a flowing COIL can be obtained by solving the coupling equations of the deduced gain expression and the energy equation which expresses the complete transformation of the energy stored in singlet delta state oxygen into laser energy. By using these expressions, the RotoCOIL experiment is simulated, and obtained results agree well with experiment data. Effects of various adjustable parameters on the performances of COIL are also presented.