Product Code: ICAL09_608

Opportunities to Enlarge the Application Area of Remote - Cutting
Authors:
Matthias Lutke, University of Technology Dresden; Dresden Germany
Thomas Himmer, Fraunhofer Iws; Dresden Germany
Andreas Wetzig, Fraunhofer Iws; Dresden Germany
Eckhard Beyer, Fraunhofer Iws; Dresden Germany
Presented at ICALEO 2009

Remote-cutting is an alternative method to conventional laser cutting processes when working on thin sheets. Going without any cutting gas the inertia can be reduced significantly. Deflected by two mirrors the laser beam becomes more flexible in the working envelope of the scanner. Depending on the sheet thickness cutting speeds of about 100 m/min in contours are possible [1], [2], [3]. The target of this paper is to give some opportunities to enlarge the application area of remote-cutting. It will be shown how the maximum cutable thickness can be increased. Furthermore possibilities to widen the working area are shown. Investigations were done to determine the parameters, which have effect on the cutting quality. Obtained qualities and quantities are compared with those of existing technologies. Moreover, investigations were done in order to determine the possibility to cut various materials. For example, the selective cutting of material compounds is described. This technology is also known as "Kiss-Cutting". Using "Kiss-Cutting" improves the handling of thin metal foils and thus the productivity.