Product Code: ICA10_709

A Study on Laser Cutting of Textiles
Authors:
Nukman Yusoff, Department of Engineering Design and Manufacture, University Malaya; - Malaysia
Noor Azuan Abu Osman, Department of Engineering Design and Manufacture, University Malaya; - Malaysia
Khairi Safwan, Department of Engineering Design and Manufacture, University Malaya; - Malaysia
Harizam Mohd Zin, Department of Engineering Design and Manufacture, University Malaya; - Malaysia
Presented at ICALEO 2010

The laser cutting technology is a non conventional method that has been widely used in many industries nowadays. Even though there are many materials successfully cut by laser and the technique has been commercially manipulated, but there are very few studies have been conducted on the ability of this method to cut various types of textiles. This thesis is focusing on recognizing the best machining conditions and the effectiveness of CO2 laser in the process of cutting various types of textiles. Through this study, two main experiments have been conducted using CO2 laser (Zech Laser model ZL1010) to perform cutting process on a single and multiple layers of textiles. The textiles used in this study are plain cotton, chiffon, habutae silk, plain jessy and plain dull satin. Two main variable machining parameters have been chosen, the laser power (100W 500W) and the cutting speed (60 mm/s 600 mm/s). The effect of varying the variable parameters have been investigated through the findings of the kerf width, side line length (SLL), circular diameter, percentage of overcut, depth of cut and the material removal rate (MRR). Through the analysis using tables and graphs, the usage of high laser power and slow cutting speed would result in low accuracy cutting. The results of Experiment A shows that cutting a single layer of textile using laser power of 100 W and cutting speed of 600 mm/s would produce the best cutting quality and accuracy but through the results of Experiment B, it can be seen that cutting multiple layers of textile would require higher laser power and moderate cutting speed to avoid non-through cutting. Despite of the careful study on the effect of the variable parameters have on the textiles, many improvement in the study to avoid errors in readings and cutting process could be done by using better CO2 laser machine that have been designed for textile cutting purpose. The findings in this study could help in the understanding of the behavior of textile subjected to laser cutting process. This study may offer to the textile industry the possibility of using laser cutting process as an alternative cutting method to be used in future.