Fundamental Experiment on Deburring of Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron by CO₂ Laser

Abstract

  CO₂ laser was used for deburring with cutting process of spheroidal graphite cast iron. The area of molten zone, area of heat affected zone and cut width were investigated as two functions of cutting speed and laser power. The areas of molten zone and heat affected zone increase as the cutting speed and the laser power increase, and result the lowest value with laser power of 200 W, cutting speed of 100 mm/min in this experimental conditions. The cut width increases as the laser power increases but is almost unchanged by varying the cutting speed. The microstructure of molten zone is observed a fine ferritic structure and heat affected zone becomes completely a hard martensitic matrix. CO₂ laser cutting process can be considered applicable to deburring of spheroidal graphite cast iron because the molten zone and the heat affected zone can be controlled as the laser power and the cutting speed are controlled.