Surface integrity in laser-assisted machining of Ti6Al4V

Abstract

In laser-assisted machining (LAM), the laser source is focused on the workpiece as a thermal source and locally increases the workpiece temperature and makes the material soft ahead of the cutting tool so using this method, the machining forces are reduced, which causes improving the surface quality and cutting tool life. Machinability of advanced hard materials is significantly low and conventional methods do not work effectively. Therefore, utilizing an advanced method is inevitable. The product life and performance of complex parts of the leading industry depends on surface integrity. In this work, the surface integrity features including microhardness, grain size and surface roughness (Ra) and also the maximum cutting temperature were investigated experimentally in LAM of Ti-6Al-4V. According to the results, cutting speed has inverse effect on the effectiveness of LAM process because with increasing speed (15 to 63 m/min), temperature decreases (524 °C to 359 °C) and surface roughness increases (0.57 to 0.71 μm). Enhancing depth of cut and feed has direct effect on the process temperature, grain size, microhardness and surface roughness.

Surface integrity analysis of aluminum 3003 alloy during ultrasonic-vibration-laser assisted turning

“…The coarse grain structure in the LAT process was mainly responsible for the generation of lower microhardness than the CT process. Kalantari et al 37 explained that the inability of the laser heating to apply a thermal softening effect at the surface of the workpiece led to lower microhardness in LAT than in CT. The microhardness during the UVLAT process was observed higher by approximately 49%, 43%, and 81%, compared to the CT, UVAT, and LAT processes, respectively.…”

Laser Beam Machining of Titanium Alloy—A Review

“…Metallurgical uniqueness of these materials make it more difficult and expensive for machining, compared to that of steel with comparable hardness range [3]. The biphasic α/β Ti-6Al-4V alloy exhibits boosted mechanical and metallurgical behaviours, which are added advantages to numerous fields amongst other Ti-alloys, due to its greater strength at higher temperature, toughness, and resistance against abrasion and corrosion [4,5]. Table 1 shows a comparison of the conventional machinability of several Ti-alloys compared to other metals.…”

Optimization and Performance of Laser Machining on Domex Steel

“…The defects of holes and micro structure were analyzed in different types of steel [7]. The effect different laser input constraints on micro holes, grain size and surface integrity were investigated in laser machining titanium aluminium alloys [8]. The strength of the material was evaluated after laser beam machining of stainless steel under different input levels of factors.…”