LASER CUTTING

ABSTRACT Laser cutting substitutes more and more conventional processes due to its technical and economic advantages. This paper gives an introduction to that modern technology. In the first part. the layout and the function of a laser cutting facility is explained, and the principal possibilities for the relative movement between laser beam and workpiece are mentioned. In the second part, the mechanism of laser cutting with its material removal by melting and evaporation is described. Most recent analytic results are mentioned and even dynamic effects as they lead to the formation of periodic striations on the cut are included. In the third part, the influence of the various process parameters, such as beam power. reactive gas flow, material properties and dimensions on kerf width, cutting speed, maximum thickness to be cut, and cut quality are discussed in detail and illustrated with some simple expressions. Laser cutting is also compared to conventional cutting processes such as mechanical or thermal cutting. A final section deals with the technical limits for cutting speed, maximum thickness that can be cut and cut quality.