Influence of process parameters on laser beam machining of leather for oil hydraulic system application

Laser Beam Machining (LBM) is an unconventional process where the laser beam is directed to the work piece where the thermal energy is utilized to remove the material. Laser Beam Machining (LBM) is best suited for machining tough to cut material like leather as it provides several advantages like high precision, and no tool wear as there is no contact between work piece and nozzle. Leather seals are used in oil hydraulic systems. The laser beam machining was carried out for leather with different levels of process parameters like Power (P), Transverse Speed (Sp), Standoff Distance (SOD) and Gas Pressure (G.Pr) and its effect on various response parameters such as MRR, Conicity, Overcut and Circularity are studied. From the results obtained, out of two trials conducted on leather the second trial has high MRR, better overcut and circularity because of the fact that second trial has lesser SOD so the intensity is more and beam divergence is less compared to trial one. The most influential parameter for leather is transverse speed because the heat transfer on the workpiece gets changed with respect to time available for the heat to spread. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.