Modelling the cutting geometry for laser remote fusion cutting of metals

The high brilliance fibre and disc lasers that were developed during the last decade providelong range focusing that enables remote laser techniques without assist gas, including remotelaser welding and cutting. In combination with industrial robots these lasers offer industry ahighly flexible production solution, including quick positioning with scanner optics across aworkpiece. The paper presents the state of the art in the field of remote metal cutting with thefocus on analytical models and the physical process analyses. Several remote cuttingtechniques can be distinguished, in particular remote ablation cutting, remote fusion cuttingand remote gravity cutting. The three-dimensional cutting process and kerf geometry isconcluded to an extensive impact on the melted metal flow and the cutting processperformance. A semi-analytical mathematical model has been developed that enables tocalculate and analyse the cutting front with respect to absorption, heat conduction, recoilpressure and melt film flow. Beside analysing the remote laser fusion cutting process, theregimes and their transitions from remote fusion cutting to keyhole laserGodkänd; 2013; 20131210 (andbra