Progress in research and application of laser assisted turning technique

Due to the hard and brittle nature for optical materials, such as single crystal silicon, sapphire and fused silica, it is still difficult to machine those materials directly. Laser assisted turning (LAT) is an advanced method for machining the optical materials, which improve the local cutting performance by softening the workpiece. It has been demonstrated the great potential in LAT process for improving the surface quality and reducing the cutting force. This study reviewed the recent application of LAT in these materials. The material removal mechanisms was also analyzed and summarized. According to the experimental results, the machining efficiency and tool life were significantly increased. Finally, the development trend of LAT is prospected.