Thermo-Chemical Approach to Laser Cutting of Thick Metallic Solids

摘要

Laser cutting of metallic solids offers numerous benefits in metal-workingindustries. One of the major limitations of laser cutting is the thickness of the part. Experimental and theoretical investigations of laser cutting using organic gases, gas-nozzle design, and dual laser beams were conducted to extend the cutting thickness and cutting speed without deteriorating the cut quality. Results indicate that carbon steel and superalloy materials can be cut up to a maximum thickness of 19 mm with a 1.5 kW CO2 laser. Subsonic gas flow rates, off-axis gas jet, and a mixture of O2 and C2H2 gases are the key parameters for successful thicker-section cutting with lasers.