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Dross formation and process parameters analysis of fibre laser cutting of stainless steel thin sheets

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Abstract

The coronary stent fabrication requires a high-precision profile cut. Fibre lasers present a solution to accomplish these requirements. This paper presents an experimental study of fibre laser cutting of 316L stainless steel thin sheets. The effect of peak pulse power, pulse frequency and cutting speed on the cutting quality for fixed gas type and gas pressure was investigated. A mathematical model based on energy balances for the dross dimensions was formulated. The dross height and the dross diameter were analysed and compared with the experimental results. This allows adjustment of the process parameters to reduce the dimensions of the dross deposited at the bottom of the workpiece during laser cutting of thin sheets.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Civil Construction, Universitat de Girona, Av. Lluis Santaló s/n, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Daniel Teixidor & Joaquim Ciurana

  2. Centro de Innovación en Diseño y Tecnologia, Tecnológico de Monterrey - Campus Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico

    Ciro A. Rodriguez

Authors
  1. Daniel Teixidor
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  2. Joaquim Ciurana
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  3. Ciro A. Rodriguez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joaquim Ciurana.

Glossary

CS

Cutting speed

HAZ

Heat-affected zone

PF

Pulse frequency

Ppp

Peak pulse power

SEM

Scanning electron microscopy

SMA

Shape memory alloy

a

Absorptance of SS 316L at a wavelength of 1.064 μm

A

Cross-sectional area

C pm

Specific heat capacity of liquid phase

C ps

Specific heat capacity of solid phase

d H

Dross height

d D

Dross diameter

ρ G

Density of assisting gas

ρ L

Density of molten material

ρ

Density of workpiece

L m

Latent heat of melting

R

Laser beam spot radius

R a

Roughness average

s L

Liquid layer thickness

T v

Boiling temperature

T m

Melting temperature

T i

Ambient temperature

ζ

Shear stress

μ L

Dynamic viscosity of molten material

μ G

Dynamic viscosity of assisting gas

v

Cutting speed

v G

Velocity of gas jet

z

Sheet thickness

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Teixidor, D., Ciurana, J. & Rodriguez, C.A. Dross formation and process parameters analysis of fibre laser cutting of stainless steel thin sheets. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 71, 1611–1621 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-013-5599-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-013-5599-0

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