A Simulation Model for the Analysis of Laser Cutting of Stainless Steel Sheets

In laser cutting processes, the removal of material is achieved without the application of external force, distinguishing it from traditional machining methods. An additional advantage of laser cutting is the ability to achieve desired surface quality in a single step, eliminating the need for additional finishing processes to smoothen and clean the cutting surface. To ensure the quality of the resulting cuts, a comprehensive understanding of the thermal behavior of the cut parts, influenced by the movement of the laser beam, is essential. The article focuses on the numerical simulation of the laser cutting process of the AISI 304 steel sheets with a thickness of 2 mm to investigate the impact of laser cutting parameters on transient thermal fields and the quality of the resulting cuts. A simulation model was developed and verified through temperature measurements during an experimental laser cutting process using the Bystronic Bysprint 3015 CO2 Laser Cutting Machine. Numerical simulations in ANSYS software were used to design a working diagram showing the relationship between laser power and cutting kerf width for three different cutting speeds: 2000 mm.min-1, 4000 mm.min-1, and 5000 mm.min-1.