Proposition of a Method to Optimize the Machining of XC42 Steel with Laser Assistance

Summary This paper presents a method which permits to obtain relationships between the main parameters to be-considered during machining of steel with laser assistance the cutting speed, the laser beam power, the melting temperature and the austenitic transformation temperature of the machined material in order to optimize the process. From a theoretical approach and from experimental results obtained in turning with laser assistance, laser power-cutting speed relations are established. defining a zone in which the influence of the energy supplied by the laser is most significant on the cutting force. Decreases of the cutting force components up to 70% are observed, in proving the efficiency of machining with laser assistance. principally in the case of hard-strength materials.