Experimental research of the influence of fiber laser machining parameters on HAZ width in AISI 4140 steels

Abstract

In present day, laser beam machining technology attracts great attention due to its cost-effectiveness, high machining quality, mass manufacturing velocity and broad areas of applicability throughout different manufacturing industries. However, intensive researches are required since many materials with different properties (chemical and mechanical) are used in the manufacturing industries; and there is need for high quality machining through newly developed laser technologies. In this context, in this experimental research, unlike most studies in the literature, an investigation was carried out on heat affected zone (HAZ) occurring in AISI 4140 steel machined by laser beam in different cutting geometries (triangle, square and circle cutting). In the present study, when the average HAZ widths calculated according to the laser cutting geometries were examined, it was understood that the highest average HAZ width (579 μm) was obtained in the triangle cutting geometry and the lowest average HAZ width (369 μm) was obtained in the circle cutting geometry. What is more, when the average HAZ widths obtained according to laser cutting geometries were compared, it was observed that the average HAZ widths of the specimens cut in triangle geometry were 31.61% and 56.93% larger than the specimens cut in square and circle cutting geometries, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that as the laser power increased, the HAZ widths were negatively affected (i.e., HAZ widths increased), but as the cutting speed increased, the HAZ widths were positively affected (i.e., HAZ widths decreased). From the ANOVA analyses, it was found that the cutting geometry (with a rate of 51.32%) was the most pivotal parameter influencing the HAZ width. When the regression analysis results (based on quadratic regression models) were checked, it was understood that R2 value had a very high rate (96.79%) as desired. Thus, from these results, it was understood that the model developed to predict the HAZ width values has a high success rate and reliability.

Keywords

• Fiber laser machining
• Laser cutting
• Heat affected zone
• HAZ width
• AISI 4140
• Taguchi DOE

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