Method and system for heat treatment of sheet metal

A method for heat treatment of an object of sheet metal, comprising the step of heating at least one selected portion of the object using an energy beam;

• wherein the beam is projected onto a surface of the object so as to produce a primary spot on the object, the beam being repetitively scanned in two dimensions in accordance with a first scanning pattern so as to establish an effective spot on the object, said effective spot having a two-dimensional energy distribution,
• wherein said effective spot is displaced in relation to the surface of the object to progressively heat said at least one selected portion of the object, and
• wherein the two-dimensional energy distribution of the effective spot is dynamically adapted during displacement of the effective spot in relation to the surface of the object, in response to at least one change in angle between the energy beam and a portion of the surface of the object being heated by the effective spot during displacement of the effective spot.