On the acting pressure in laser deep drawing

Through the continuing trend of miniaturization new cost efficient and fast methods for processing of small parts are required. In this paper a non-mechanical process for the forming process of micro deep drawing is presented. This new pulsed laser based deep drawing process utilizes an initiated plasma shock wave at the target, which forms the sheet. Several pulses can be applied at one point and therefore high forming degrees can be reached without increasing the energy density. In this article the pressure of the shock wave is measured and optimized. Furthermore laser deep drawing of samples made out of pure aluminum, copper and stainless steel sheet metal with thicknesses of 20 and 50 mu m are shown. Finally the forming behavior after single pulses is presented.