Experimental and numerical approaches of Laser assisted turning

This study shows experimental and numerical preliminary approaches of laser assisted machining. The laboratory has an industrial lathe equipped with a laser source with 2.5 kW to carry out experiments on various materials. This machine is instrumented for the measurement of cutting forces and thermal fields (infra-red camera). Our aim is to show the viability of the process in industry. After a presentation of laser assisted machining, we will detail the laser heating modelling, and the first steps of a cutting modelling with laser assistance, for the comprehension of thermomechanical phenomena. Then we will present the effect of the laser assistance, on the cutting force and the surface quality when machining a traditional steel, and on the field of the residual stresses after machining of a hardened bearing (55 HRc).This program is supported by the Region Pays de la Loire and the French government within a collaboration of ENSAM Angers, E.C. Nantes and CETIM