Geometrical Variation from Selective Laser Heat Treatment of Boron Steels

Paper in proceeding, 2018

Selective laser heat treatment is used to enhance material properties in high strength steels and finds wide range of applications in the automotive industry. However, the manufactured components also become sensitive to variation affecting functionality, esthetics, and performance of the final product. In this paper, selective laser heat treatment of boron steels is analyzed with emphasis on geometrical variation. Different manufacturing strategies are tested by varying heating direction sequence and heat treatment pattern and their influence on springback is investigated. The results indicate their significant contribution to geometrical variation and the need to consider them in various stages of the geometry assurance process.