Comprehensive Assessment of Laser Tube Bending Process by Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

The laser beam can be used as a powerful tool for bending tubes and sheets by local heating and buckling mechanism. Herein, the bending of mild steel tubes is investigated by irradiation of the laser beam. To consider the effect of the interaction of process parameters despite previous research, six laser tube bending process parameters in different levels including laser power, scanning speed, laser beam diameter, irradiation length, number of irradiation passes, and irradiation scheme are selected and a set of 92 experimental tests is planned according to the response surface methodology (RSM). The tests have been carried out by using a continuous wave (CW) CO2 laser. The influencing parameters affecting the main bending angle and the lateral bending angle are determined. The effect of main process parameters and their interaction on the main and lateral bending angles are discussed. The axial irradiation scheme (AIS) creates a higher main bending angle compared to the circumferential scanning strategy. The results show that the main bending angle and lateral bending angle increase by increasing the laser power, irradiation length, and the number of irradiation passes and reducing the scanning speed and laser beam diameter. The main and lateral bending angles are determined by a regression equation with about 96% goodness of fitting. The results show that 1100 W laser power, 14.6 mm s−1 scanning speed, 4 mm laser beam diameter, 28.27 mm irradiation length, 1 pass of irradiation, and AIS lead to a simultaneous maximum bending angle of 1.80° and minimum lateral bending angle of 0.152°.

Developing a Support Vector Regression (SVR) Model for Prediction of Main and Lateral Bending Angles in Laser Tube Bending Process

“…The experimental tests were carried out according to the response surface methodology plan (Box-Behnken type). The plan consists of 92 experiments, which are listed in Table A1, Appendix A. Minitab 19 software was used for the design of experiments and data analysis in the published work [29]. After the irradiation of the laser beam, the tube bent upward (main bending angle).…”

“…More details of the experimental setup and definitions are presented in Ref. [29] and are not repeated in this article. focus only on the implementation of SVR for the prediction of process variables.…”

“…The model predictor in this article will calculate the process outputs (the main bending angle and lateral bending angle) based on the input process variables, including the laser power, laser diameter, scanning speed, irradiation length, irradiation scheme, and the number of irradiations. The effect of process variables was analyzed and discussed by the authors in a previous study [29], and this article will focus only on the implementation of SVR for the prediction of process variables. It is recommended that the readers read the authors' previous publication [29] for additional details and then read this article.…”

“…The effect of process variables was analyzed and discussed by the authors in a previous study [29], and this article will focus only on the implementation of SVR for the prediction of process variables. It is recommended that the readers read the authors' previous publication [29] for additional details and then read this article.…”

Investigation of Laser Cutting of Thin Polymethyl Methacrylate Sheets by Response Surface Methodology

“…the depth of cut increases by increasing the vibration frequency. The authors also published research about the utilization of laser beams and their different applications in industries (21)(22)(23).…”