Title: Parameter optimisation in laser cutting of aluminium alloy sheet

Authors: Avanish Kumar Dubey; Gavendra Norkey; Sanat Agrawal

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad-211004, Uttar Pradesh, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, Guna-473226, Madhya Pradesh, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, Guna-473226, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: Being a thermal energy-based advanced cutting process, the capability of laser beam cutting depends mainly on optical and thermal properties of materials to be cut rather than mechanical properties. Highly reflective and thermally conductive sheetmetals are known as difficult-to-laser-cut materials. This paper presents an experimental approach to investigate the optimum laser cutting parameters, which minimise the surface roughness during pulsed laser cutting of difficult-to-laser-cut aluminium alloy sheet. Robust parameter design has been used for deciding the optimal parameter levels for straight cut profiles. An empirical model for surface roughness has also been developed. On the basis of optimisation results, it has been found that the optimal parameter level suggested give minimum surface roughness in present operating conditions. The results have also been verified by running some confirmation tests.

Keywords: difficult-to-laser-cut materials; surface roughness; robust design; parameter design; aluminium alloy sheet; laser beam cutting; LBC; laser cutting; aluminium alloys; surface quality; optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2012.048227

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, 2012 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.179 - 188

Received: 04 Jan 2011
Accepted: 23 Jun 2011

Published online: 21 Aug 2014 *

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