Product Code: JLA_9_3_119

Authors:
David L. Carroll
James A. Rothenflue

A chemical oxygen–iodine laser (COIL) was used to cut aluminum and carbon steel. Cut depths of 20 mm in aluminum and 41 mm in carbon steel were obtained using an N₂ gas assist and 5–6 kW of power on target. The same laser at the same power level produced a cut depth of 65 mm in carbon steel with an O₂ gas assist; a low quality cut to a depth of nearly 100 mm in carbon steel was also demonstrated. These data are compared with existing COIL and CO₂ laser cutting data. COIL cuts carbon steel and stainless steel at approximately the same rate. For a given cut depth, power and spot size, COIL cuts steel approximately three times faster than a CO₂ laser using an inert gas assist. COIL cutting speeds in carbon steel are improved by approximately a factor of three when an O₂ assist is used in lieu of an N₂ gas assist. With an N₂ gas assist, COIL cuts aluminum at approximately the same rate as CO₂ cuts steel. To improve the agreement between data and an existing theoretical cutting model, an empirical correction factor was added to the model; this modification provides excellent agreement with data.