THERMAL AND EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF CO2-LASER CUTTING PROCESS

In CO2 laser gas-assisted cutting process, modeling of the interaction mechanism is important. Consequently, the present study treats the co mplete problem of the interaction oft he melting surface with the boun dary layer and describes the behavior of the melting layer. In the ana lysis, gas-liquid interface parameters are developed and relationships between the parameters influencing the cutting action are identified theoretically,. To achieve this, effects of momentum and gas-liquid in terface shear stress, due to the assisting gas jet, are considered. Th e approximate magnitude of the heat absorbed is estimated and melting layer thickness is predicted. Art experiment is carried out anti the t heoretical predictions are compared with the experimental findings. Fi rst and second law efficiencies of the cutting process are predicted, which may, then, be used to improve the process. It is found that the assisting jet velocity increases the first and second law efficiencies of the CO2 laser cutting process. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.