Laser cutting of pigment coated boards

Abstract

It is commonly known that laser cutting is suitable for paper and board cutting. Anyhow the use of laser technology in this application is minimal. This paper concentrates on defining the parameters that affect the laser cuttability of pigment coated boards and outlook of cut edge. This study was performed within a national project in Finland about laser cutting of pulps, papers and boards. The research was carried out with a Trumpf 2700 W HQ laser and a work cell designed and manufactured for the project.The materials used in study were calcium carbonate and clay coated boards. The grammage of base board was kept constant when coat weight varied. The cutting experiments contained tests of how different laser parameters like power and focal point position affected the cutting speed and the cut edge quality.Coated boards used in study could be laser cut with distinguished quality. It was noticed that cutting speed was linearly dependent on laser power. However, it was found that with mineral pigment coated materials, like not with uncoated materials, in certain parameter point this linear behaviour turned to nonlinear behaviour. This was due to type of pigment and amount of coating. In addition, it was found that fastest cutting speeds and narrowest kerfs were reached with optimal positions of focal point.It is commonly known that laser cutting is suitable for paper and board cutting. Anyhow the use of laser technology in this application is minimal. This paper concentrates on defining the parameters that affect the laser cuttability of pigment coated boards and outlook of cut edge. This study was performed within a national project in Finland about laser cutting of pulps, papers and boards. The research was carried out with a Trumpf 2700 W HQ laser and a work cell designed and manufactured for the project.The materials used in study were calcium carbonate and clay coated boards. The grammage of base board was kept constant when coat weight varied. The cutting experiments contained tests of how different laser parameters like power and focal point position affected the cutting speed and the cut edge quality.Coated boards used in study could be laser cut with distinguished quality. It was noticed that cutting speed was linearly dependent on laser power. However, it was found that with mineral pigment coated...