MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF ROUNDNESS AND POSITIONAL ERRORS IN CO2 LASER CUTTING OF HOLES IN AISI 316L STAINLESS STEEL

In laser cutting, there is often a need to determine a compromise cutting conditions with respect to existing different process performance characteristics. This paper is focused on multi-objective optimization of dimensional accuracy characteristics of holes cut in AISI 316L stainless steel by CO2 laser. Laser cutting experiment, conducted according to 32 factorial experimental design, provided a set of data for development of third-order (cubic) polynomials for establishing relationship between process inputs (severance energy and assist gas flow) and outputs (roundness and positional errors). Multi-objective optimization problem was formulated using desirability function approach (DFA) using a novel desirability function, while graphical optimization was used to identify optimum laser cutting conditions. Analysis of contour plot of the overall desirability function revealed that lower assist gas flows and middle to high severance energy levels is beneficial for dimensional accuracy of laser cut holes. © 2024, Politechnica University of Bucharest. All rights reserved.