Experimental research of picosecond laser based edge preparation of cutting tools

Abstract

In this study, using ultrafast lasers of 10 ps pulse duration as a precise and efficient method for cutting edge preparation is researched. Cutting edge preparation is an important step within cutting tool manufacturing, while unprepared sharp cutting edges show low stability, which leads to tool failure by high mechanical and thermal loads during the turning processes [C. F. Wyen, W. Knapp, and K. Wegener, Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. 59, 899–914 (2012)]. The rounding of the edges requires laser manufacturing with high precision and minimal heat accumulation; thus, ultrafast lasers have been used in other investigations [M. Stolze, T. Herrmann, and J. L'huillier, Proceedings of ICALEO, Orlando, USA, ICALEO, Orlando, FL, October 23–27 (J. Laser Applications, Orlando, 2011)]. In the authors’ study, the effects of edge roundness on the cutting tool material WC-Co alloy were experimentally investigated. Samples with three different grain sizes and percentages of cobalt were used in the authors’ study. The experiments were carried out on the free surfaces of cutting tools under varying laser parameters including laser wavelength, fluence, and spatial pulse overlap (PO) in air or by using process gases (helium and oxygen). The impact of all these different laser parameters on the various material sorts was investigated. As a result, no reduction of the hardness of the original material was observed that could have a negative effect on the cutting ability of laser rounded cutting tools. By analyzing the surface quality of the ablated areas processed with different laser parameters mentioned above, a surface roughness below Ra = 0,15 μm was generated by using optimal fluence at both wavelengths of 1064 nm (IR) and 532 nm (VIS) and using a 70% spatial PO. Thus, a well-defined cutting edge with radii of 20–40 μm could be prepared.

Energy Efficiency in CO2 Laser Processing of Hardox 400 Material

“…The authors found that the laser with different wavelengths 532 nm (VIS) and 1064 nm (IR) can be used to round the cut edges, because the accuracy is high. When analysing the mechanical properties of the obtained cutting tools, no change in hardness was observed, and the roughness obtained R a was less than 0.15 µm [30]. Sibalija et al analysed the following parameters: cutting speed, auxiliary gas pressure, and laser power focusing position on the 2 mm thick Nimonic 263 alloy.…”

A Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study on the Ultrafast Double-Laser Precision Cutting of Sapphire Materials

“…The power and cutting speed of the double laser affect the quality of sapphire cutting. Laser energy is the main energy source in the laser cutting of sapphire [40,41]. The energy of sapphire irradiated per unit of time is determined by the laser power and scanning speed, and laser power has an important impact on cutting quality.…”

Influência da preparação de aresta e do avanço na usinagem do aço VP20TS

“…Nesse contexto, KANG et al (2020);PETER et al (2020) afirmam que a preparação da aresta de corte, aliada às condições de corte apropriadas, pode influenciar nas forças geradas durante a usinagem e aumentar a resistência ao desgaste das ferramentas, gerando, assim, maior vida e melhor acabamento superficial para a peça usinada. YANG; LIANG; ZHENG (2011) afirmam que a preparação de arestas, por meio do seu arredondamento, tem influência na temperatura de corte e AGIC et al ( 2019) constataram experimentalmente que o arredondamento da aresta de corte exerce influência na vibração durante o processo de corte.…”