Application of ray-tracing to interpreting beam prints from fibre laser cutting

Alotaibi, M.; Atiyah, H.; MacKenzie, R.C.I.; Voisey, K.T.

Abstract

2D ray-tracing has been used to investigate the influence of inclined cutting front and the cutting edge on the exiting, surplus, laser beam while cutting 6 mm mild steel with a fibre laser, wavelength = 1070 nm. The ray-tracing model, which assumed a Gaussian beam, has investigated the distribution of this surplus beam as a function of kerf wall inclination angle. Multiple reflections are shown to broaden the spatial distribution of the surplus beam. Dross and kerf wall roughness also broaden the spatial distribution of the surplus beam. Comparison of an experimentally obtained beam print from the surplus beam for 1.07 µm fibre laser cutting of 6 mm stainless steel with modelled results allows inclination of the cut front to be estimated. The experimentally obtained beam print has features consistent with roughness/dross induced beam broadening.

Citation

Alotaibi, M., Atiyah, H., MacKenzie, R., & Voisey, K. (2017). Application of ray-tracing to interpreting beam prints from fibre laser cutting. Lasers in Engineering, 39(1-2),

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 11, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 7, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 8, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 8, 2019
• Journal: Lasers in Engineering
• Print ISSN: 0898-1507
• Electronic ISSN: 1029-029X
• Publisher: Old City Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1-2
• Keywords: Laser cutting; Fibre laser; Ray tracing; 2D ray tracing; Simulation; Beam print; Surplus energy; Black PMMA
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/848700
• Publisher URL: http://www.oldcitypublishing.com/journals/lie-home/lie-issue-contents/lie-volume-39-number-1-2-2018/lie-39-1-2-p-3-16/
• Contract Date: Mar 8, 2018