Laser-assisted shearing: new process developments for the sheet metal industry

The developed hybrid laser-assisted shearing process enables conventional punching machines to produce punch-sheared edges with continuous clear-cut surfaces in stainless steel plates (1.4301), spring steel plates (1.4310), and titanium alloy plates (3.7165). The new combination of localized laser-induced softening of the plate material in the shearing zone and the shearing process significantly reduces both process forces and process-related noise emissions. The Fraunhofer IPT has also developed a modular system upgrade for existing punching machines, which allows laser-assisted shearing to be implemented without the need for expensive new machine designs.