Using CO2 Laser, Optimization of Laser Power, Exposure Time and Frequency for Cavity Formation on Hardox Steel Plate

The texture of the surfaces of materials causes changes in mechanical properties such as friction. Micro-scale cavities have been created on Hardox steel plate, which has recently been the focus of attention in demanding applications with its hardness, toughness and wear resistance. CO2 laser was used in the cavitation process on the surface and the power, exposure and frequency of the laser used were optimized to obtain a cavity with the desired geometry. Taguchi method was used in the optimization process. In addition to obtaining the optimum parameters, the effect ratios of the parameters were also calculated. Optimum laser parameters were obtained as 5 s for laser exposure duration, 60 W for laser power, and 50 kHz for laser frequency. According to the optimization calculations, the parameter with the highest effect on the result was laser exposure duration with a rate of 71,86 %. Laser power and laser frequency affected the result by 23.02 % and 5.12 % respectively.