Water-jet-guided laser processing

Bernold Richerzhagen; Muneharu Kutsuna; Haruhiku Okada; Takeshi Ikeda

doi:10.1117/12.486514

19 February 2003 Waterjet-guided laser processing

Bernold Richerzhagen, Muneharu Kutsuna, Haruhiku Okada, Takeshi Ikeda

Proceedings Volume 4830, Third International Symposium on Laser Precision Microfabrication; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.486514
Event: LAMP 2002: International Congress on Laser Advanced Materials Processing, 2002, Osaka, Japan

Abstract

The waterjet-guided laser processing is a thermal cutting process in which the laser beam is used as the machine tool for cutting and the fine waterjet plays a role as an optical waveguide. The laser beam is guided in the waterjet stream with the full reflection that takes place at the boundary between water and air, in a manner similar to glass fibers. The waterjet also has the function of waveguiding and removing the cut products. The diameter of the waterjet can be controled between 50 and 200 μm. The diameter of laser beam is completely utilised. The useful length of waterjet is usually approximately 50 to 100 mm. The type of laser used is a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The advantages of waterjet-guided laser processing are (1) no Z-axis control, (2) narrower cut widths down to 50 μm, (3) very small heat affected zone, (4) a little oxidation of the cut edges, and (5) no assist gas for cutting. A reseach was carried out for the new industrial application which is unsuitable by conventional laser cutting.

Citation Download Citation

Bernold Richerzhagen, Muneharu Kutsuna, Haruhiku Okada, and Takeshi Ikeda "Waterjet-guided laser processing", Proc. SPIE 4830, Third International Symposium on Laser Precision Microfabrication, (19 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.486514

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