Two-Dimensional Numerical Investigation on the Effect of Laser Parameters on Laser Indirect Machining of Glass

Abstract

Due to the transmissivity, it is difficult and challenging to process the transparent materials by using the lasers. In, Laser Indirect Machining (LIM) process, a laser beam scans over a transparent material which is placed above a metallic plate (target). In the laser processing, the reflected energy of the laser beam from the metal plate is used to ablate the transparent material at its rear side. The process is useful; however, it is very complex and interesting. Therefore, in this work, a physics-based 2D axisymmetric nonlinear transient thermal model of the LIM process has been developed to study the underlying physics of the process. By using the developed model, extensive numerical experiments have been carried out and a detail study on the effects of laser parameters (scanning speed, laser power, and pulse duration) on the ablation depth of glass has been presented. Detail analysis of temperature profile has also been carried out. Presented results will be useful in establishing the LIM in practice.