Study on material transfer and surface properties during fiber laser cutting of A653 galvanized steel sheet

Abstract

Cut quality is an important factor in laser beam cutting. In the present paper, modeling and optimization of laser beam cutting process parameters during fiber laser cutting of A653 galvanized steel sheet for straight cut by using response surface methodology have been studied. In this experimental work, power, gas pressure, pulse frequency and feed were taken as input parameters and kerf width, kerf deviation and material removal rate were taken as output responses. The experiments were planned using Box–Behnken design, and empirical models have been developed by using response surface methodology. Scanning electron microscope was used to determine the surface characteristics of sample. Confirmation tests were conducted to validate predicted optimum results. Considerable reduction in kerf deviation and increase in material removal rate were revealed by confirmation tests. The percentage prediction error in the case of kerf width was 5.12% and in the case of kerf deviation was 5.88%, which shows that model is adequate. The experimental and statistical results revealed that the most significant laser cutting parameters for kerf width, kerf deviation and MRR is feed followed by gas pressure, frequency and power.