Laser cutting of high strength low alloy steel (HSLA) by carbon dioxide lasers

Laser cutting is one of the important applications of laser machining process. In laser gas assisted cutting operation, assisting gas can be reactive or inert depending on the process requirements. In metal gas assisting cutting process, in general, oxygen (reactive gas) is used while argon or helium (inert gasses) is used for wood and plastic cutting. Use of oxygen provides exothermic reaction in the cutting section enhancing the energy available for the cutting process. On the other hand, argon or helium prevents high temperature exothermic reactions and avoids the sideways burning sand excessive mass removal from the cutting kerfs. Different technologies of plasma, oxygen cutting laser and water jet cutting used for cutting thicker sheets. In this study we used CO2 gas laser because is very effective in (HSLA) steel and is suitable for cutting with CNC method. We found that cutting Sheet-metal by CO2 laser provide good quality, increased productivity, accuracy, quality of machined surfaces, and reducing the consumption of materials and energy. Laser cutting has good advantages over other known thermal processes due to the high quality and smoother cut surface. Key Words: Laser cutting, (HSLA) steels, CO2 carbon dioxide gas laser.