LAT(Laser Assisted Turning) is a method that applies a machining process after softening a workpiece in which a preheating process is locally applied to its machining section using laser heat source. LAT shows several advantages, such as high productivity, reduction of manufacturing cost, high quality. Analysis of temperature distribution after preheating for LAT is very difficult due to its very small heat input area and large energy and its movement. Also, the LAT for a square bar is more difficult because the shape of a laser heat source can be changed according to the rotation of the workpiece. In this study, thermal analysis for LAT of square bar was performed using laser heat source projection method. And, the analysis results were compared with the results of the prior study of numerical calculation method. It is thus shown that the proposed method is efficient for the thermal analysis of a shaped bar.
