Abstract
Cutting performance for metals and ceramics with a CO laser (λ= 5-6 μm) was compared with that with a CO2 laser (λ = 10.6 μm). Comparative runs were conducted with keeping experimental conditions same for both lasers except for a laser wavelength, in order to investigate the effect of wavelength on the cutting performance. Workpiece materials used for the experiments were stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, aluminum alloy, alumina (Al2O3) and aluminum nitride (AlN). The cutting performance were compared in terms of the maximum cutting speeds at which the workpiece plate is cut and separated. The maximum cutting speeds by the CO laser were always higher than those with a CO2 laser when the plate thickness was relatively thin (<5mm). In particular a very large difference in cutting speed was observed for the aliminum alloy. On the other hand for thick plate O2 cutting with self-burning, an effect of assist gas was much larger than that of wavelength.
