Evaluation of chip breaking in combined laser-turning process

摘要

Control of chip formation is one of the most critical challenges in turning processes. This paper deals with a novel combined turning process in which a high-power fiber laser is integrated into a Swiss type turning machine in order to rapidly ablate spiral grooves on the workpiece circumference. The workpiece was axially turned after ablating the defined spiral grooves by the laser. A stainless steel (DIN1.4571; X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2) and a carbon steel (DIN1.7139; 16MnCrS5) were chosen as the workpiece materials to compare the effects of the combined laser turning on the process performance. Different types of chips are formed under different cutting conditions. The experimental results indicate that by utilizing the developed technique, not only could the chips be practically shortened, but the cutting forces and surface roughness considerably decrease.