Study of input parameters influence on the surface quality at laser processing of Hardox 400 steel

Abstract

The paper presents the result of the experimental research regarding the influence of the parameters of the laser cutting regime of the HARDOX 400 steel on the roughness of the processed surface. The study was carried on by means of experimental research, based on a plan developed according to the Taguchi method, a fractionated factorial one, applied for three input parameters: assistant gas pressure, laser power, and cutting speed, each having three levels. The statistical processing of the experimental data was performed by ANOM (analysis of means) and S/N indexes (signal to noise), according to Taguchi Method approach, validated by ANOVA (analysis of variation). Particularly, the paper analyses the combined influence of laser power and the pressure of the assistant gas on the roughness. The main conclusion is that among the two parameters, the most significant influence is that of the pressure of assistant gas.