The role of analytic heat flow models in laser processing

Abstract

The development of laser processing procedures often requires knowing the temperature at selected places and times on the workpiece being treated for a range of processing conditions. The usual approach is to run a computer model of the process in order to speed up the development and optimisation of the process parameters. Setting up finite difference or finite element numerical models can be time consuming and prone to error, for those of us not up to speed in the discipline of numerical modelling. We present the results of an analytical model that can be quickly applied to the processing of sheet material. The analytic solutions are evaluated on a PC and rapidly evaluate the temperature at the places and times that are required by the process developer.The development of laser processing procedures often requires knowing the temperature at selected places and times on the workpiece being treated for a range of processing conditions. The usual approach is to run a computer model of the process in order to speed up the development and optimisation of the process parameters. Setting up finite difference or finite element numerical models can be time consuming and prone to error, for those of us not up to speed in the discipline of numerical modelling. We present the results of an analytical model that can be quickly applied to the processing of sheet material. The analytic solutions are evaluated on a PC and rapidly evaluate the temperature at the places and times that are required by the process developer.