Product Code: JLA_9_5_233

Authors:
S. A. J. Livingstone
K. L. Chua
I. Black
Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Heriot‐Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, U.K.

This paper covers the cutting of commercially‐available ceramic tiles using a CO₂ laser cutting machine, with the object of producing a laser beam machining database which contains the essential parameter information for their successful processing. Various laser cutting parameters were investigated that would generate a cut in ceramic tile which required minimal posttreatment. The effects of various shield gases, multipass cutting and underwater cutting were also examined.