Research on Assist-Gas Dynamics and Nozzle Design for Laser Cutting

该奖项是为了提高对激光切割中用于吹走熔融材料和等离子体的辅助气体动力学的理解，以提高性能的研究。超声速微射流技术将被转移到激光切割领域，通过在切口的整个切割边缘保持超声速流动来提高切割速度和效率。增强了熔体的去除，避免了材料在切口中的再沉积。通过改进喷嘴设计，还将寻求对传统同轴辅助气体输送的重大改进。这项工作主要是实验性的，包括开发适当的喷嘴和微型喷气机，以及使用实际的商业激光设备进行切割试验。该研究有望对气体动力学相关的基础知识基础以及激光切割关键制造技术的效率产生影响。辅助气体动力学的改进有望直接转化为更快、更清洁的激光切割。更强大的激光器现在变得可用，也将受益于改进辅助气体动力学预期作为这项研究的结果。

9400119 Settles The award is for research to improve understanding of the dynamics of the assist gas used with laser cutting to blow away molten material and plasma, with a view to improving performance. The technology of supersonic microjets will be transferred to the field of laser cutting to improve cutting speed and efficiency by maintaining supersonic flow along the entire cutting edge of the kerf. Melt removal is enhanced and material redeposition in the kerf is avoided. Significant improvements in conventional coaxial assist-gas delivery will also be sought by improving nozzle design. The work is primarily experimental and involves development of appropriate nozzles and microjets, and cutting trials using actual commercial laser equipment. The research is expected to impact the fundamental knowledge base related to gas dynamics as well as the efficiency of the key manufacturing technology of laser cutting. Improvements in assist gas dynamics are expected to translate directly into faster, cleaner laser cuts. More powerful lasers now becoming available would also benefit from the improved assist gas dynamics expected as a result of this research.