Product Code: ICAL08_1907

Effect of Laser Beam on the Chip Formation in Machining of Titanium Alloys
Authors:
Shoujin Sun, Swinburne University of Technology; Melbourne Australia
Matthew Dargusch, University of Queensland; Queensland Australia
Milan Brandt, Swinburne University of Technology; Melbourne Australia
Presented at ICALEO 2008

The effect of laser beam on the chip formation in machining of both Ti6Al4V alloy and commercially pure titanium has been investigated at different cutting speeds, laser powers and tool-beam distances. The characteristics of the segmented chip by LAM in terms of depth of tooth and tooth spacing are strongly dependent on the cutting speed and tool-beam distance. Transition from sharp segmented chip to continuous chip occurs at the speed around 110m/min, chip becomes sharper with further increase in cutting speed. To obtain the continuous chip, large plastic deformability near the free surface is required, which can be achieved by the laser pre-heating in front of cutting tool.