Title: Thermal analysis of diode laser processing of aluminium alloy tubes

Authors: Fabrizio Quadrini, Erica Anna Squeo, Vincenzo Tagliaferri

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy

Abstract: High thermal conductivity materials can be processed by diode lasers despite of their low specific power. In fact, by reducing conduction losses through high speed processing, a sort of keyhole effect can be obtained even for laser sources with a low energy concentration. In order to show the feasibility of this kind of processes, the case of a high speed rotation of an aluminium alloy tube was considered. A finite element model was defined to study the related physical mechanisms. A critical speed, depending on material properties and part size, can be found to maximise laser processing efficiency. A laboratory experience was also carried out to show the effective advantage of the proposed method.

Keywords: diode lasers; laser processing; finite element method; FEM; modelling; thermal analysis; aluminium alloy tubes; rotational speed; material properties; part size.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2010.035158

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2010 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.297 - 311

Published online: 10 Sep 2010 *

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