The assessment of heavy-duty laser cutting efficiency and environmental impact through different optical setup

Abstract. Improving energy efficiency has become a crucial priority, as the laser cutting industry is moving toward higher power levels and dealing with increasing energy costs. Recent advancements aim to enhance process performance by optimizing the intensity distribution of the laser beam. This paper evaluates the energy consumption of laser cutting using two different technologies: the conventional static beam strategy (SBS) and dynamic beam shaping (DBS). In addition to energy consumption, this study assesses the assist gas usage and environmental impact for both technologies. The findings reveal a 20% reduction in energy consumption and a 25% decrease in the assist gas consumption with DBS, along with improved cut quality. The study ultimately demonstrates a significant reduction in environmental impact when DBS cutting is used instead of SBS cutting. These results highlight DBS as a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional SBS technique.