FACTORS AFFECTING THE LASER PROCESSING OF WOOD .1. EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL LASER PARAMETERS ON MACHINABILITY

In the laser cutting of wood, an infinite number of factors are combined in a complicated way. The variables in a laser system influencing the ability of the laser to cut wood are investigated. The beam quality depends upon the laser system because this is an attribute of a resonator itself. Factors concerning laser equipment and working table are laser power, feed speed of the workpiece, focal length of the focussing lens, the assist gas pressure, and it's flow rate. These are treated as mechanical parameters of laser processing. From the thermal reactionary point-of-view, the depth of cut and it's pyrolysis or thermal deterioration of wood basically is propotional to the laser power density and the concerned time of beam. As it is given to fix laser power output, the optimum range of feed speed exists. An excess of laser energy applied to wood material causes a wide heat-affected zone. The depth of cut is related to laser power and feed speed. Under the same cutting conditions, a laser beam reaches the same depth in the direction of thickness. However, assist gas pressure and the gas-flow rate have effects on forming the cutting groove.