THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THICK-SECTION CUTTING WITH A CHEMICAL OXYGEN-IODINE LASER (COIL)

A simple mathematical model of thick-section stainless steel cutting w ith a high power chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) is presented and compared with experimental results obtained with a 10-kilowatt COIL at the U.S. Air Force's Phillips Laboratory, This model uses a lumped-pa rameter technique to relate the cutting kerf depth with various proces s parameters and can be used to predict scaled laser materials process ing performance to very thick sections. The model is similar to an emp irical model developed by researchers in Japan, but includes predictiv e capabilities for thick metal cutting at very low velocities. The eff ects of various process parameters such as laser power, spot size and dimensions, and processing speed in the cutting depth are discussed an d demonstrated. Finally, the ramifications of this model on thick-sect ion processing of metals are presented, with emphasis on potential app lications of COIL to high-speed, thick stainless steel cutting.