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Laser Machining Applications

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Laser Machining

Part of the book series: Mechanical Engineering Series ((MES))

Abstract

This chapter presents laser machining results from industrial applications and laboratory experiments. In general, laser machining produces parts with higher dimensional accuracy and surface quality than those produced with conventional processes, and with higher material removal rates. Materials that can be machined by lasers include metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, wood, glass and rubber. Laser drilling can produce holes as small as 0.05mm in diameter in workpieces at a rate of up to 1ms/hole. It is used in industry for producing holes in turbine blades, combustion chambers, and aerosol nozzles, among other applications. Laser cutting is used to produce intricate two-dimensional shapes in workpieces made out of materials such as sheet metal and paper up to 15mm thick with high cutting speeds. Laser scribing has been used to create channels in ceramic substrates for cooling and identification labels in finished parts. Finally, three-dimensional laser machining has been used in a research effort to implement turning, milling and threading operations. Quality issues related to laser machining such as dross formation in metals, microcrack formation in ceramics and matrix decomposition in composites are also discussed in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Room 35-134, 02139, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    George Chryssolouris

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  1. George Chryssolouris
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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Chryssolouris, G. (1991). Laser Machining Applications. In: Laser Machining. Mechanical Engineering Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4084-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4084-4_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-4086-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-4084-4

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