A comprehensive review of studying the influence of laser cutting parameters on surface and kerf quality of metals

Abstract

Sheet metals such as titanium alloys, steel alloys, and aluminum alloys are significant materials due to their importance among everyday life products as well as high-strength applications in aircraft, ships, automobiles, construction, military, and marine purposes. Recently, laser cutting is one of the best and fastest non-conventional methods to cut sheet metals, so it is necessary to understand how laser cutting parameters affect cutting quality. A comprehensive review was presented to investigate how laser cutting parameters affect the cut surface and kerf quality and which parameters affect cutting quality the most. An overview of the advantages of laser cutting when compared to other methods of machining was presented. In addition, a description of the laser cutting method and the different sources of laser were presented with clearing the range of thicknesses of the cut material for each source and their advantages. Also, a description of the properties and the applications of the studied materials were discussed. The performance parameters ofcutting were illustrated in detail by graphs and equations. The research analysis and discussion were discussed in such organized details by tables and graphs which show the full classification of the studied papers. It was found that the best conditions to obtain low surface roughness, small HAZ width, small kerf width, and small kerf angle are using low laser power, high cutting speed, medium gas pressure, high standoff distance, medium pulse frequency, medium pulse width, small nozzle diameter, small thickness, and nitrogen as an assist gas.

Analysis of the Effect of Cutting Motion Speed in CNC Laser Cutting on Roughness and Accuracy

“…By setting the influencing parameters, the optimum product results are influenced by the focus point of the laser beam, cutting gas pressure, and cutting speed. The cutting speed influences the optimum cutting results at the right thickness [14].…”

Lean-and-Green Datacentric Engineering in Laser Cutting: Non-Linear Orthogonal Multivariate Screening Using Gibbs Sampling and Pareto Frontier

“…From a machining perspective, the process uniqueness of laser beam cutting is identified to deliver focused thermal energy to the targeted workpiece, without any machine tool-end coming in direct contact with the processed item. An additional advantage stems from the fact that this machining approach may even be used for treating hard steel alloys, which are known for their remarkable mechanical properties [2]. Specifically, modelling a CO 2 laser cutting process is a subject that still attracts a lot of attention.…”

Experimental Modeling, Statistical Analysis, and Optimization of the Laser-Cutting Process of Hardox 400 Steel

“…This is because these parameters can be easily controlled and are the most effective parameters for measuring cut quality. The most common output parameters that indicate surface quality and have been studied by researchers are surface roughness and kerf width [ 2 ]. Hardox steel is a trademark that encompasses a wide range of high-strength, wear-resistant steels that retain their physical and mechanical properties over a wide temperature range and are widely used in industrial applications.…”

“…The LCP is a non-contact method that utilizes the energy of a focused laser beam without the use of hard tooling, making it easy to cut complex geometries. With this method, the challenges of cutting hard materials using conventional methods are eliminated, the heat-affected zone (HAZ) is very small, the kerf width is very small, and there is very little residual stress and distortion [1,2]. Most researchers prefer to consider the main parameters affecting the LCP in their research, which include the intensity of the beam power, the diameter of the laser beam, the type and pressure of the assistant gas, the pulse frequency, the cutting speed, and the position of the focal point relative to the workpiece surface.…”