Khaja Moiduddin

Due to the variety of benefits over traditional cutting techniques, the usage of laser cutting technology has risen substantially in recent years. The attributes of laser technology for leather cutting include adaptability, mass production, capability of cutting complicated patterns, ease of producing tailored components, and reduction in leather waste. In the present study, vegetable chrome-tanned buffalo leather specimens were cut using a 20 W laser diode with conventional and pulse width control in a photodiode-assisted laser cutting process. Emission rate, kerf width, carbonization, and material removal rate were considered as quality indicators. The higher power density associated with the pulse width approach reduces the interaction with the specimen, which results in a better emission rate and material removal rate, along with a lesser kerf width and carbonization. Using the MOORA approach, the optimal parameters of the present study were found to be a stand-off distance of 22 mm, a feed rate of 200 mm/min, a duty cycle of 75%, and a frequency of 20 kHz. The duty cycle can effectively control the pulse width at which the energy has been dissipated across the cutting zone.

Numerous industries, including footwear, handicrafts, and the automobile industry, utilize leather materials. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of input power of the diode laser in laser cutting on vegetable chrome tanned buffalo leather to enhance the cutting process. In the present investigation, carbonization, kerf width, and material removal rate (MRR) were taken as performance measures. The diode-based laser beam machining was designed and fabricated with 2.5 W, 5.5 W, and 20 W diode laser to cut vegetable chrome tanned leather. The high-intensity 20 W diode laser produced lower carbonization, lower kerf width, and higher material removal rate compared with the 2.5 W and 5.5 W diodes. This improved performance was due to the adjustable features associated with this diode laser actuation in the form of circular shape with adjustable diameter. A high power with a lower spot size under pulsed mode can produce higher power density. Since a higher power density can establish less interaction time, it produces lower carbonization. Due to the ability of the 20 W diode laser driver to control the beam shape and size, it could produce a lower kerf width and higher MRR. The optimal parameters for cutting chrome vegetable tanned cow leather were a standoff distance of 18 mm, feed rate of 200 mm/min, and duty cycle of 70%.