ADAPTIVE PATH CONTROL IN TANGENTIAL MICROMACHINING: A FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH USP LASER

Tangential laser micromachining with ultra-short pulses offers high precision and is increasingly used for forceless machining of hard materials, especially in medical, watchmaking, and microtool applications. However, existing machining strategies often fail to maintain effective cutting conditions across varying workpiece dimensions. This preliminary study introduces an adaptive path control (APC) approach aimed at optimizing the angle of incidence (AOI) during the process. A closed-loop system was implemented to adjust the laser path based on in-machine measurements of the workpiece diameter during the machining process. Results show that adaptive control can significantly enhance material removal rate (MRR) up to 2.5 mm3/ min, when having the constant cutting conditions during entire process. The study confirms the feasibility of using APC laser strategy to improve process performance and provides a basis for future development of intelligent micromachining systems.