High brightness diode laser systems as direct cutting tools

A high brightness diode laser system is introduced. In this study the practicality of the laser system incorporating a 2.5 kW diode laser source is tested in the industrial fields of metal cutting. 5 mm mild steel and 6 mm stainless steel are cut via oxygen cutting and inert-gas cutting. The process parameters are optimized using design of experiments (DOE) to obtain burr free laser cuts with minimal cut edge surface roughness. Varied factors include cutting speed, gas pressure, focus position, nozzle diameter and nozzle distance. The relationship of these factors to burr formations and cut edge surface roughness is presented.