FE investigation on engineering application prospects of laser-heating assisted micro-part stamping

To enable stamping of high-strength materials or to achieve higher aspect ratios of the parts stamped, localised heating may be introduced to a stamping process. The process with laser-heating assistance, however, needs to be carefully designed, with a view to achieving a desired heating rate and product quality. Micro-stamping with laser heating is a field which was not exploited previously. Research was, therefore, conducted to develop such a configuration to meet industrial development needs. The results showed that, a desired temperature-distribution is achievable for both, copper and steel type work-materials, if high-powered laser beam was used. Low-powered laser beam, however, may not be as effective as desired. Laser heating would enable to reduce stamping-force requirements and to increase aspect ratios achievable with stamping, if process parameters ware properly set. The heating was particularly effective, when a tubular stamping-tool was used.