Effect of Process Parameters and Optimization of Bending Angle in Laser Bending Process by Response Surface Method

The laser forming process is an emerging area of research and industry, primarily focused on materials like titanium, magnesium, steel, and their alloys. However, aluminum alloys have received less attention due to challenges related to surface reflection and low absorption coefficients.In this research, the effect of different process parameters on bending angle in the laser bending of Al 6061 sheets was investigated by experiments and finite element simulation. The parameters were optimized by Response Surface Method (RSM) to achieve the maximum bending angle. In addition, the reproducibility of the process, as well as the accuracy and validation of the simulation, were examined by conducting experiments that involved accurate measurement of the bending angle. The results revealed that the sheet thickness had the most significant effect on the bending angle. Specifically, with an increase of 1 mm in the sheet thickness, the bending angle decreased by 77%. Additionally, through process parameter optimization, the maximum bending angle achieved was 4.911 degrees.