QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF CO2 LASER MACHINING

Laser machining encompasses laser drilling, laser marking, laser grooving and laser engraving, which is broadly used in industries for its extensive machining potential; flexibility, high accuracy, precise, and can cut almost any materials. It works by directing the output of a high power laser beam onto the materials to be cut where, the materials then either melts, burns or vaporizes away leaving an edge with a high quality surface finish of the desired shape and geometry. In this empirical research investigation, the EN-32 mild steel with nominal thickness of 2.5mm and 5.0 mm were profiled using four by eight feet CO2 laser cutting machine. The significant effect of design parameters was investigated to produce almost perfect and clean cutting of end product. This process was then analyzed and set in order to achieve satisfactory part quality of a locally established metal cutting industry. Quality examinations in the aspects of geometrical / dimensional errors (kerf width) and cut quality (surface roughness) have been investigated. The findings can be widely used and benefited by metal cutting industries or researchers of relevant field.