Laser cutting of ductile cast iron

The laser cutting method of the conventionally used material nodular cast iron, including the technological parameters influencing its cutting edge quality, is described in this paper. Samples were created by using different laser cutting technological parameters. The parameters, varied during the experiments, included the type of assist gases (O-2 and N-2/O-2 combination - with different ratios of the two gases) and the cutting speed (within a range of 1.6 mm/min to 0.32 mm/min). Both parameters were changed until the desired properties of the cut surface were obtained. The heat affected zone's width, microstructure and roughness parameters, were monitored for samples of thickness t = 13 mm. Results of the heat affected zone width measurements and its microstructure are shown in figures and evaluated for comparison purposes. The laser cutting principles and technology are briefly described, as well (properties of the CO2 laser beam, laser cutting input parameters, assist gases, interaction with the target material and stability of the cutting process).