Optimization of Laser Cutting Parameters on the Laminated Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) Composites Using DOE Technique

Abstract

Nowadays, carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) composites is widely used in the aerospace industry due to its excellent mechanical properties. In laser cutting process, high powers are used to cut materials then material melts and burns leaving edges with a high quality finish. To fulfill the high demand of cutting quality, a set of laser cutting parameters of CFRP material are studied. The objective of this experiment is to obtain an optimum laser cutting parameter thus minimizing the cutting defects particularly on kerf width at the top and bottom surfaces. The analysis of process parameter was carried out using DOE, Design Expert 6.0.8. Cutting speed, pulse duration, pulse repetition rate and pulse energy were analyzed at two levels. By the optimizing the parameter setting, significant improvement in cutting quality has been achieved.

Cutting Processes of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

“…The results clearly showed that the orientation of the fiber had an important influence on HAZ and surface roughness and +45°/−45° gave the better results than the other ways of orientation. On the other hand the study conducted by Wahab et al [ 75 ] did not show a clear influence of other input parameters such as cutting speed, gas pressure, and laser power, however, the kerf width was influenced negatively with higher values of cutting speed and laser power.…”