Transient Model for CW and Pulsed Laser Machining of Ablating/Decomposing Materials—Approximate Analysis

Abstract

Approximate, quasi-one-dimensional conduction models have been developed to predict the changing shape of holes, single grooves, or overlapping grooves carved by ablation into a thick solid that is irradiated by a moving laser source. For CW or pulsed laser operation a simple integral method is presented, which predicts shapes and removal rates with an accuracy of a few percent, while requiring one order of magnitude less CPU time than a three-dimensional, numerical solution. For pulsed operation a “full-pulse” model is presented, computing the erosion from an entire pulse in a single step, and reducing computer time by another order of magnitude.