Process of laser machining

Abstract

Laser machining belongs in the large family of material removing or machining processes. It is one of the most widely used thermal energy-based noncontact-type advanced machining processes. Laser beams can be used in many industrial applications, including machining, whereby it constitutes an alternative to traditional material removal techniques and can be used for the processing of a variety of materials, namely, metals, ceramics, glass, plastics, and composites. Laser machining is characterized by a number of advantages such as the absence of tool wear, tool breakage, chatter, machine deflection, and mechanically induced material damage, phenomena that are usually associated with traditional machining processes. However, as it is the case with all manufacturing processes, it is the optimum operating parameters that have to be determined. In the present chapter, the state of the art on the laser machining is being presented.