Thermal Phenomena at the Laser Beam Machining

The laser beam machining is essentially based on the effects generated at the contact of the workpiece surface with a laser beam that has adequate energetically and spatial -temporal characteristics and is directed and focused or defocused by means of the optical lens and mirrors system. The paper presents some authors considerations concerning the possibilities to classify and analyze the laser beam machining by taking into consideration the thermal effect. Thus, if only the thermal effect is considered for a certain given laser beam machining equipment, the fundamentals of different machining techniques applicable on this equipment depends essentially on the energy density in the contact zone between the laser beam and the workpiece surface layer and on the duration of the contact between the laser beam and the workpiece. These aspects were analyzed in the case of laser beam machining equipment having an output power of 300 W and a numerical controlled table. The experimental research was developed to highlight the possibilities to materialize different machining techniques based on the thermal effect of the laser beam.