Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser Micro-turning of Alumina to Study the Effect of Overlap Factors on Surface Roughness Performance

Abstract

Laser micro-turning is one of the latest micromachining technologies for processing cylindrical shaped work material. Utilizing this novel micromachining process, micron size depth of desired length along the cylindrical axis of the workpiece can be micro-turned using highly intense laser beam. In this process, there are two important overlap factors i.e. spot overlap and circumferential overlap play important role for achieving the desired quality of micro-turning surface. The present paper deals with the effect of overlap factors on roughness of laser micro-turning surface. By varying the pulse frequency, workpiece rotating speed and workpiece axial feed rate, a range of spot overlap and circumferential overlap can be achieved and experiments have been conducted at different process parametric combinations. Parametric effects and detailed analysis have been carried out using different graphical plots. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the machined surface were also analysed for the qualitative assessment and parametric effects of the process.