Industry Internship: Combustion-Assisted Laser Cutting of Difficult-to-Machine Materials

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The research will explore the effects of combustion assist gases and ultraviolet/infrared laser combinations to develop efficient methods of machining materials that are conventionally difficult-to-machine, such as the refractory metals (tungsten and molybdenum), superalloys, and ceramics such as silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, and composites. The specific goals are (1) to study the effects of infrared/ultraviolet combination laser sources, combustion-assist gases, and gas-flow conditions on the cutting process, (2) to conduct experiments on difficult-to-machine materials, to verify experimentally and augment the results of the analytical study, and (3) to recommend methods to improve the effectiveness of laser cutting for thicknesses greater than 5 mm. The specifics that will be addressed include the effect of infrared/ultraviolet laser beams on the absorption of laser energy, the effect of chemical reactions on laser energy absorption, and the influence of combustion on the cutting efficiency.