Laser Beam Machining
5.2.1 Introduction
Modern machining methods are established to fabricate difficult-to-machine materials such as high-strength thermal-resistant alloys; various kinds of carbides, fiber-reinforced composite materials, Stellites, and ceramics.Conventional machining of such materials produces high cutting forces that, in some particular cases, may not be sustained by the workpiece.Laser beam machining (LBM) offers a good solution that is indeed more associated with material properties such as thermal conductivity and spe-cific heat as well as melting and boiling temperatures.Laser is the abbreviation of light amplification by stimulated emis-sion of radiation. A highly collimated, monochromatic, and coherent light beam is generated and focused to a small spot. High power densi-ties (106W/mm2) are then obtained. A large variety of lasers are avail-able in the market including solid-state, ion, and molecular types in
either continuous wave (CW) or pulsedmode (PM) of operation as shown in Table 5.2. Lasers are widely used in many industrial applications including plating, heat treatment, cladding, alloying, welding, and machining.
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