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Influence of process parameters on kerf geometry and surface roughness in Nd:YAG laser cutting of Al 6061T6 alloy sheet

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Abstract

In the present study, fine laser cutting of aluminium alloy 6061-T6 sheets, characterised by light reflection and heat conductivity, by means of a 150-W multimode lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser is investigated through an experimental testing campaign. Design of experiments (DoE) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are adopted to study the influence of the process parameters on the kerf geometry and surface roughness. The results show that the laser allows cutting 1-mm-thick AA6061-T6 sheets with a cutting speed up to 700 mm/min, obtaining narrow kerfs (smaller than 200 μm), a fine taper angle (lower than 4°), a low dross height (about 40 μm) and a roughness average, Ra, around 4 μm.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, Second University of Naples, Via Roma 29, 81031, Aversa (Ce), Italy

    C. Leone

  2. CIRTIBS Research Centre, University of Naples Federico II, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy

    C. Leone, S. Genna & V. Tagliaferri

  3. Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy

    A. Caggiano

  4. Fraunhofer Joint Laboratory of Excellence on Advanced Production Technology, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy

    A. Caggiano

  5. Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    V. Tagliaferri

  6. MBDA Italia Spa, Via Calosi 1, 80070, Bacoli (NA), Italy

    R. Molitierno

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  1. C. Leone
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  2. S. Genna
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  3. A. Caggiano
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  4. V. Tagliaferri
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  5. R. Molitierno
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Correspondence to C. Leone.

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Leone, C., Genna, S., Caggiano, A. et al. Influence of process parameters on kerf geometry and surface roughness in Nd:YAG laser cutting of Al 6061T6 alloy sheet. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 87, 2745–2762 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-016-8667-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-016-8667-4

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