Abstract
Laser assisted oxygen cutting (LASOX) of 20–40 mm thick mild carbon steel is performed using fiber-coupled diode lasers with a combined optical power of 400 W. The experimental cutting head assembly is designed to deliver the laser beam off-axis to the cutting oxygen jet. Under this non-standard beam delivery conditions, the top edge of the cut may suffer from an excessive melting, overheated by the inclined laser beam. We propose a strategy in order to diminish the top edge melting defect and demonstrate that high quality cuts can be obtained in 20 mm thick workpieces, and lower quality separation of up to 40 mm steel thickness. The experimental results demonstrate the potential of high-power diode sources in the LASOX cutting method, and the ability of relatively low power, compact and lightweight diode-based systems to cut thick sections of mild steel.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 106876 |
Journal | Optics and Laser Technology |
Volume | 138 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jun 2021 |
Keywords
- Cutting of thick steel
- High power diode lasers
- Laser cutting
- Oxygen cutting
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering