Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cutting thin sheet metal with a water jet guided laser using various cutting distances, feed speeds and angles of incidence

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This research deals with the cutting of thin sheet metals at various distances, feed speeds and angles of incidence using a water jet guided laser. In the water jet guided laser process a laser beam is focused into a jet of water, which transmits the beam to the workpiece. This eliminates the need for any focus control. Nevertheless, most of its applications are in planar cutting where this advantage is not utilized. For the laser parameters, jet pressure and diameter in question, the value of 50 mm was found to be a fairly reliable upper limit to the cutting distance for both normal and inclined surfaces. In addition to the laser beam being absorbed partially by the water jet, the jet was found to be susceptible to disturbances. Specimen vibration caused by the water jet also impeded cutting a continuous kerf.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Synova (2002) The water jet guided laser. Synova S.A., Switzerland. http://www.synova.ch/pdf/microjet.pdf. Cited 28 March 2006

  2. Richerzhagen B, Housh R, Wagner F, Manley J (2004) Water jet guided laser cutting: a powerful hybrid technology for fine cutting and grooving. ALAC 2004, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. http://www.synova.ch/pdf/ALAC04.pdf. Cited 28 March 2006

  3. Nilsson T, Boillat C, Mabillard G, Housh R, Wagner F, Richerzhagen B (2004) A technological leap in stencil cutting. On Board Technology, June 2004. http://www.OnBoard-Technology.com. Cited 28 March 2006

  4. Chaplin M (2005) Water structure and behavior, molecular vibration and absorption. http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/vibrat.html. Cited 28 March 2006

  5. Sogandares F, Fry E (1997) Absorption spectrum (340–640 nm) of pure water. l. Photothermal measurements. Appl Opt 36:8699–8709

    Google Scholar 

  6. Nikogosyan D (1997) Properties of optical and laser-related materials. Wiley, Chichester, England

    Google Scholar 

  7. Spiegel Á, Vágó N, Wagner F (2004) High efficiency Raman scattering in micrometer-sized water jets. Opt Eng 43:450–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Couty P, Spiegel Á, Vágó N, Ugurtas B, Hoffmann P (2004) Laser-induced break-up of water jet waveguide. Exp Fluids 36:919–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Richerzhagen B (2002) Industrial applications of the water jet guided laser. Ind Laser User 28

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Oulu, PL 4200, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Jyri A. Porter, Yrjö A. Louhisalmi & Jussi A. Karjalainen

  2. ITW e.V. Chemnitz, Institut für innovative Technologien, Neefestr. 88, 09116, Chemnitz, Germany

    Sascha Füger

Authors
  1. Jyri A. Porter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yrjö A. Louhisalmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jussi A. Karjalainen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sascha Füger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jyri A. Porter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Porter, J.A., Louhisalmi, Y.A., Karjalainen, J.A. et al. Cutting thin sheet metal with a water jet guided laser using various cutting distances, feed speeds and angles of incidence. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 33, 961–967 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-006-0521-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-006-0521-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation