Experimental Optimization of Multi-Quality Laser Cutting Characteristics of Jute/Epoxy laminate: Full Factorial Design and Grey Relational Analysis

Natural Fiber Composites (NFs) are an excellent substitute for synthetic materials in a wide variety of engineering applications, particularly automotive. This material must be correctly machined due to the tight tolerances of the final products and environmental concerns. In this regard, the current study examines the effects of a 120W continuous wave CO2 laser beam cutting equipment on woven jute fiber reinforced epoxy laminate. Four layers of jute-woven canva and epoxy resin were utilized to construct a 2.5 mm thick laminate composite plate. The study employs a full factorial design of experiments (DOE) method with three parameters and three levels in order to determine the effects of laser power (ranging from 60 to 96 watts), cutting speed (ranging from 10 to 20 mm/min), and nitrogen assist gas pressure (ranging from 1 to 3 bars) on the laminate. Four primary parameters are used to evaluate the quality of the cuts: Upper Kerf Width (UKW), Kerf Taper (KT), Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), and Upper Kerf Deviation (UKD). The results indicate that increasing the assist gas pressure enhances all aspects of the cut's quality. By gradually increasing the cutting speed and decreasing the laser power, the minimum HAZ and UKW can be obtained. The Kerf Taper exhibits opposite tendencies. In addition, the grey relational analysis reveals that the optimal factor settings are 3 bar of assist gas pressure, 60 watts of laser power, and 20 mm/min of cutting speed.