Study into the Measurement and Prediction of Penetration Time during CO2 Laser Cutting Process

Abstract

The present study examines the measurement and prediction of the penetration time during CO2 laser cutting of mild steel workpieces at various pressures of oxygen and argon-oxygen mixtures. Three different measurement techniques are introduced, namely optical, thermocouple and wire methods. The Fourier heat transfer equation is examined and a quasi-steady solution is obtained for the temperature distribution inside the material. The data available for the cutting quality are then related to the penetration time.