Influence of process parameters in laser piercing

Abstract

This work addresses the analysis of the influence of process parameters in laser piercing for mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum thick sheets, carried out by the monitorization of the signal with a photodiode installed coaxially in the cutting head. The sensor captures the infrared or visible signal emitted during the piercing. The relationship between the intensity of the signal and the parameter values was analyzed, distinguishing between soft and fast piercings. The results permit the optimization of the piercing strategy with a reduction of 25% in time and the possibility of establishing a threshold to control the piercing process. This study reveals the importance of knowing parameter dependencies with the process results and highlights the potential of monitorization systems in laser cutting to improve the piercing duration and avoid wasting time during production.