Investigation of the Effects of CO2 Laser Processing Parameters on Kerf Width and Depth in Basalt Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

<span class="fontstyle0">This study focused on the effect of processing parameters of CO₂ laser on kerf </span><span class="fontstyle2">width and depth<br>of basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composite. In this research, the Taguchi method has been followed to<br>optimize the laser power, scanning speed, and frequency for minimum thermal damage and a maximum<br>rate of cutting. Laser parameters resultant in nine different experimental combinations were studied. The<br>obtained results showed that, in general, an increase in the laser power led to larger and more profound kerf<br>structures, while an increase in the scanning speed worked oppositely. For example, at 20 W with a speed<br>of 100 mm/s and frequency with 5 kHz, the interaction without apparent material removal gave place to a<br>narrow and shallow kerf. In this case, when increasing the power to 45 W and the speed of the process to<br>100 mm/s, the kerf that was obtained was very much wider and deeper to a minimum depth of 130 m.<br>Higher laser frequencies resulted in increased energy accumulation on the material surface; hence, this<br>showed greater material removal and greater depths during kerf formation. The range for optimum balance<br>between kerf width and depth was for a power of 45 W, speed of 200 mm/s and frequency of 50 kHz. This<br>gave a reasonably deep and wide kerf with less thermal damage. These results have further established<br>guidelines that could be useful in the optimization of laser processing for basalt composites for applications<br>involving fine material removal and surface texturing.</span> <br style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">