Laser Forming of Metal Laminate Composite Materials

22nd International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO 2003), Jacksonville, Florida, October 13-16, 2003, Paper No.107, Laser Institute of America, Publication No.595, Vol.95, ISBN 0-912035-75-7, 2003

S. P. Edwardson 1 , G. Dearden, P. French, K. G. Watkins, Laser Group, Dept. of Engineering, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; W. J. Cantwell, Materials Science, Dept. of Engineering, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK 1
Contact: s.p.edwardson@liverpool.ac.uk

Abstract: The laser forming process has been shown to be a viable method of shaping metallic components, as a means of rapid prototyping and of adjusting and aligning. Although the process does compete with conventional forming processes, applications are being discovered were laser forming alone can achieve the desired results. The application reported in this work demonstrates how the process can be used to form recently developed high strength metal laminate composite materials, these materials due to their construction and high strength are difficult to form once constructed using conventional techniques. Metal laminate composite materials are of particular interest to the aerospace industry, were the high strength yet lightweight construction of parts made with these materials offers significant weight reductions and hence a reduction in operational costs of new large commercial aircraft such as the Airbus A380. Also reported in the work is a system for the closed loop controlled 2D laser forming of such components.

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