Experimental investigations of laser machining process parameters using response surface methodology

Abstract

The geometrical feature kerf deviation is an undesirable characteristic during machining which is required to be minimized. To minimize kerf deviation characteristics, it is important to select proper machining parameter for machining the workpiece material. Therefore, an investigation is carried out to see the effect of laser process parameters, i.e., “laser power”, “cutting speed”, “gas pressure”, “working distance” and “focus position” on the desired characteristics i.e top kerf deviation and bottom kerf deviation. To achieve the current objective, an experimental investigation is done on CNC based Prima 4000 W CW-CO2 laser cutting process to machined Hastelloy C- 276 material. Using desirability approach of RSM for material Hastelloy C276, the value of the optimum responses top kerf deviation and bottom kerf deviation obtained are 0.0092 mm and 0.0081 mm respectively. The corresponding value of error obtained as 9.7% and 8.6% respectively. Finally, confirmatory test are performed to validate the result obtained using desirability analysis of RSM. The result of confirmatory test shows that percentage error is<10%.