Study Of The Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser Inert Gas Cutting On Inconel 718 Using Empirical Approach And Finite Element Analysis
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Date
2011-07
Authors
Nyon, Ken Yoong
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Laser cutting is a thermal cutting process in which a highly intense laser beam melts the material throughout the material thickness and form a cut kerf width. In Malaysia, laser cutting become one of the most common industrial application of laser especially in sheet metal processing industries. Inconel 718 is a type of high strength nickel-based alloy, thus makes it difficult to cut using conventional cutting methods. In this research, laser inert gas cutting was identified as the best method to cut the material and nitrogen gas is chosen as the inert gas. Laser cutting of Inconel 718 for 1 mm and 2 mm thicknesses were simulated by using commercial finite element analysis (FEA) code, ANSYS. Finite element method was used to predict the temperature distribution, thermal stress, and kerf width formation during laser cutting process. A moving Gaussian heat flux was employed as a heat source model for performing a non-linear transient thermal analysis. ANSYS Parameter Design Language (APDL) was used to model the Gaussian distributed heat flux from the laser beam acting on the workpiece. The removal of melted material during laser cutting to form the kerf width was modeled by employing the element death methodology in ANSYS. In addition, laser cutting was simulated at continuous wave (CW) and the effects of laser power and cutting speed on kerf width was investigated. Meanwhile, the model was validated by comparing the results with the experimental and results published in literature. A good correlation was found between simulation and experimental results.
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Keywords
Laser inert gas cutting was identified , the best method to cut the material