High speed, high energy automated machining of hardwoods by using a carbon dioxide laser: ALPS Available to Purchase

By using the focused beam of a high energy laser, relatively narrow and deep cuts were made in one inch thick pieces of kiln dried Basswood, Black Cherry, Soft Maple and Black Walnut types of hardwoods used in furniture industry. A 3000 watt, RF excited carbon dioxide laser operating in CW mode was used to make cuts under a wide range of focusing conditions, laser power, feed rate, cover gas type and materials properties. To determine the environmental safety of using laser for cutting wood, the composition of the gases produced during laser wood cutting was determined by using a Perkin Elmer, Model 8500, Gas Chromatograph. An on line analysis of various constituents present in laser plasma was also performed by using a Model 1460, OMA III, Emission Spectrometer. The effect of high velocity air on cutting performance was investigated by using a normal and a shock-free super sonic nozzle. Mathematical models incorporating wood combustion, size and energy of laser beam, and materials properties and thermal properties are developed to predict maximum cutting rates. The predicted rates are in close agreement with the experimental rates obtained for various types of hardwoods cut by a laser. A prototype has been developed at High Energy Laser Processing (HELP) laboratory of Michigan State University to demonstrate to the wood industry how automated laser cutting of wood will work in an industrial environment. The current status of the research is discussed in this paper.