An investigation of the particulate generated during high power CO2 laser cutting of mild steel sheet was undertaken. The ejected particulate was analysed for particle size distribution, shape, and surface features. The particles ranged in size from sub-µm to millimeters across. Many are spherical, hollow and thin-walled causing a significant fraction to remain airborne. The investigation of the concentration of the airborne fume and its correlation with process parameters such as laser power, cutting velocity and assist gas pressure was studied. It was found that the concentration of airborne particulate is at a maximum at the optimum value of power-to-velocity ratio for a particular workpiece thickness. Essentially, the concentration of the airborne particulate increases with increasing cut quality. This relationship can provide a basis for a process control system.

Topics
Laser cutting, Alloys, Particle size analysis
1.
L.
Lobo
,
K.
Williams
, and
J. R.
Tyrer
.
The effect of laser processing parameters on the particulate generated during the cutting of thin mild steel sheet.
Proceedings of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers
216
(Part C);
2002
; pp.
301
–
313
.
2.
L.
Lobo
,
K.
Williams
, and
J. R.
Tyrer
.
The effect of laser processing parameters on the fume generated during cutting of mild steel. presented at the Intl.
Conference on Applications of Lasers and Electro-optics
,
Dearborn, Michigan
, Oct
02
–
05
,
2000
.
3.
Malvern Instruments
, retrieved http://www.malverninstruments.com/home.htm.
4.
C. D.
Wilcox
,
S. B.
Dove
,
W. D.
McDavid
, and
D. B.
Greer
,
UTHSCSA Imagetool
(
University of Texas Health Science Center
,
San Antonio
,
2001
), retrieved http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu/dig/itdesc.html.
Google Scholar
 
5.
D. R.
Askeland
,
The science and engineering of materials
, 2nd ed.,
Chapman and Hall
,
1990
.
Google Scholar
 
6.
A. J.
Yule
 and
J. J.
Dunkley
,
Atomization of melts for powder production and spray deposition
,
Advanced Manufacturing, Clarendon Press
,
1994
.
Google Scholar
 
7.
L.
Lobo
,
Solid phase by-products of laser material processing
,
2002
,
Loughborough University
,
Loughborough
.
Google Scholar
 
8.
I.
Black
.
A comparison of severance energies for reactive CO2 laser cutting of mild steel
.
International Journal of advanced manufacturing technology
15
;
1999
; pp.
832
–
834
.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s001700050139
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2003 Laser Institute of America.
2003
Laser Institute of America
You do not currently have access to this content.