VIBRATIONAL CONDITIONING OF SURFACE LASER PROCESSING: A FEASIBILITY STUDY

In an effort to better understand the laser processes, a vibrational process conditioning technique has been demonstrated utilizing the vibration response changes during laser processing of plate-like workpieces. Taking into account laser processing conditions, the drift of natural frequencies and the disturbance of natural modes of vibration have been computed numerically by means of finite element computational procedures. These simulations reveal a method for conditioning of surface laser processing, based on real-time acquisition and analysis of workpiece vibration response. Material removal by a laser beam produces propagating changes in geometry that decrease the structural stiffness and thus alter continuously the vibration response of the structure being processed, as the machining advances. These flexibilities are properly modelled and evaluated as functions of cutting parameters. A feasibility study has been carried out considering the bending vibration of plate structures with line discontinuities. Numerical results show the sensitivity of the natural frequencies and the disturbances of the natural modes of vibration on the process parameters and thus prove that this non-destructive method may be applied for the conditioning of laser machining processes.