An experimental study of geometrical characteristic in low power fiber laser drilling of Monel k-500 superalloy

Abstract Precise holes in advanced difficult to cut nickel-based superalloys can be drilled with ease by the method of fiber laser drilling. Laser trepanned drilling has become more acceptable laser percussion drilling as it can produce better hole quality and generate macro or micro size hole. On the basis of geometrical quality feature like hole taper for drilling small diameter hole in difficult to cut Monel k-500 superalloy sheet laser trepanned drilling process performance studies have been made in the present research paper. The laser drilling has become a highly non-linear and complex process as there is involvement of different and large process parameters. Application of response surface methodology (RSM) has been made for attaining optimization by way of handling the non-linearity and complexity. Input process parameters like sawing angle, power setting, duty cycle, pulse frequency and trepanning speed have been used in this study. A well-designed experimental matrix has supplied essential data to find out the influence of significant process parameters on characteristic of the hole taper. Development of reliable empirical models has been achieved to relate different quality characteristic.