Gas Jet Effects On Laser Cutting

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Abstract
In laser cutting, kerfs are made through the removal of molten material. For effective material removal, an off-axial gas jet is used. Clearing molten material with a jet makes the molten layer thin and reduces the amount of the laser beam energy diverted to heat the molten layer to its evaporation temperature. The use of an off-axial jet introduces additional parameters such as reservoir pressure, nozzle-workpiece distance, jet targeting point, and jet attack angle. The effects of these jet parameters on the cutting depth are investigated theoretically and experimentally. An optimal Set of conditions in order for the jet parameters to achieve maximum cutting depth is found.