Implementation and performance analysis of combined SOD and PWM control in diode based laser beam machining process on leather specimen

Abstract

Due to a variety of benefits over traditional cutting techniques, the usage of laser technology has risen substantially in recent times. In the present study, an effort was made to investigate the effects of different control approaches in laser power diode based cutting process on leather specimens. Since kerf Width (KW) and material removal Rate (MRR) can impact the process efficiency, these outcomes were used in this study. The leather specimens were cut using 20 W laser diode with various approaches such as open loop standoff distance (SOD) control, closed loop SOD control, open loop pulse width modulation (PWM) control, closed loop PWM control and combined closed loop SOD and PWM control. The synthesized diode LBM process can effectively remove the material from leather specimen under various control approaches such SOD control, PWM control and combined control methodology. The high power with less spot size under pulsed mode can produce higher power density. Due to the ability of controlling beam shape and size under 20 W laser diode module, the combined control could produce lower kerfwidth and higher MRR. Since the combined control of SOD and PWM can also control peak pulse energy and power density at the same time, it can produce better performance measures as compared with other mode of control. Owing to the ability of controlling peak pulse energy and pulse width, the combined control of SOD and PWM produces larger MRR.