The effect of material intrinsic properties on the quality of machined surface during laser beam cutting

Abstract

The current research delves into the behaviour of commonly used engineering materials, namely, mild steel (HA350), aluminium (Al5005), and stainless steel (SS316), while cut by fibre laser, in terms of surface roughness, hardness, laser affected area, and kerf width. This work offers a comprehensive analysis of the complex interplay between laser cutting parameters and material response. Research findings confirm that material properties significantly influence the outcomes of fibre laser cutting, affecting hardness, kerf width, and the laser-affected area, where defects, like splatters occur. It was found that the machined surface of the stainless steel and mild steel decreased in hardness by 22.7 % and 20.5 %, respectively. In contrast, a 46 % increase was noted for aluminium. In addition, thermal conductivity impacted the material's ability to produce a smoother surface. Finding a balance of laser power and speed to accommodate the material properties are important factors, which would impact material roughness.