Optimization of Laser Cutting Parameters toward Formation of Dross Defects on Stainless Steel Material

Abstrak

Laser cutting technology is widely used in the manufacturing industry because it is able to produce precise and efficient cutting. However, improper setting of cutting parameters can cause the formation of dross defects that reduce the quality of the cut. This research aims to analyze the formation of dross defects and determine the optimal cutting parameters on stainless steel materials with a thickness of 1 mm and a cutting length of 50 mm. The full factorial experimental design is used with three process parameters, namely cutting speed (S), focus point (F), and gas pressure (P). The height of the cutting results is measured and analyzed using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method to evaluate the effect of each parameter on the observed response. The analysis results show that the focus point factor (F) has a significant effect on the dross height with a p-value of 0.029 (<0.05), while cutting speed, gas pressure, and all interactions between factors do not show a statistically significant effect. Contribution analysis shows that the F×P interaction gives the greatest contribution to the dross height variation of 29%, followed by the F factor of 27%. Based on the research results, the combination of optimal parameters to minimize the height of the dross was obtained at the focus point -2 mm, cutting speed 30 m/min, and gas pressure 10 bar. This finding shows that focus point setting is the main factor in controlling dross defects in the laser cutting process of stainless steel materials.