Pareto optimal nesting in laser blanking applications for minimal wastage and cutting time

Abstract

Many complex sheet metal components have been blanked by either laser or press work. Blanking by press work is suitable and cost-effective for large scale manufacturing of identical parts, whereas laser is used to cut combinations of irregular shapes into small quantities. Effective utilization of resources in Laser blanking depends primarily on i raw material sheet metal, which depends on the packing of the components nesting in the standard sheets and ii Laser cutting / blanking machine cost that depends on Processing time time taken for cutting and uncut travel, and other idle times such as setting, maintenance.. Besides, the heat generated by the laser cutting process and after cooling cause changes in the region near the cut surface. The Heat Affected Zone HAZ may lead to undesirable effects such as fatigue resistance, surface cracking, and distortion. Coating techniques have been emerging to a large extent to improve the quality of characteristics such as surface finish, physical and mechanical properties. Considering the above points, the aims or objectives of this research have been focused on the development of methodologies for maximum material utilization of raw material by appropriate nesting of Parts, minimum processing time by selecting cutting sequence to reduce uncut travel time, and improved surface finish by Aluminum Nitride coating of the Laser blanking process to widen itsapplication potential. newline