Off-line multiresponse optimization of gas-jet-assisted CO2 laser cutting of polymettacrylate

From the phenomenological point of view, laser cutting processes are complex, weakly organized and diffuse systems. Off line optimization of such processes demands relative simple, but accurate enough models, which could be obtained by experimental way. The article presents the results of a large factorial designed experiment, having three main objectives: to identify which factors are statistically important, to build a quantitative model relating the important factors to the response functions, to optimize these response functions and particularly the material removal rate, the kerf walls parallelism deviation and the specific energy consumption. The obtained results allow the choice of laser cutting optimal parameters.