International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture 48 (2008) 609–628 Laser beam machining—A review Avanish Kumar Dubey, Vinod Yadava à Department of Mechanical Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad 211004, UP, India Received 16 May 2007; received in revised form 18 October 2007; accepted 23 October 2007 Available online 6 November 2007 Abstract Laser beam machining (LBM) is one of the most widely used thermal energy based non-contact type advance machining process which can be applied for almost whole range of materials. Laser beam is focussed for melting and vaporizing the unwanted material from the parent material. It is suitable for geometrically complex profile cutting and making miniature holes in sheetmetal. Among various type of lasers used for machining in industries, CO 2 and Nd:YAG lasers are most established. In recent years, researchers have explored a number of ways to improve the LBM process performance by analysing the different factors that affect the quality characteristics. The experimental and theoretical studies show that process performance can be improved considerably by proper selection of laser parameters, material parameters and operating parameters. This paper reviews the research work carried out so far in the area of LBM of different materials and shapes. It reports about the experimental and theoretical studies of LBM to improve the process performance. Several modelling and optimization techniques for the determination of optimum laser beam cutting condition have been critically examined. The last part of this paper discusses the LBM developments and outlines the trend for future research. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Laser beam machining; Nd:YAG; CO 2 ; HAZ; Kerf; Modelling Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................... 610 2. Laser beam machining (LBM) .................................................................. 610 2.1. Light and lasers ........................................................................ 610 2.2. Principle of LBM ....................................................................... 610 2.3. LBM variations ........................................................................ 611 2.4. Laser-based hybrid/cross/assisted machining .................................................... 613 2.5. Remarks ............................................................................. 614 3. LBM applications ........................................................................... 614 3.1. Remarks ............................................................................. 615 4. Major areas of LBM research: state-of-the-art ....................................................... 615 4.1. Experimental studies ..................................................................... 615 4.1.1. Material removal rate (MRR) ........................................................ 616 4.1.2. Machined geometry ............................................................... 616 4.1.3. Surface roughness ................................................................. 617 4.1.4. Metallurgical characteristics .......................................................... 618 4.1.5. Mechanical properties .............................................................. 618 4.1.6. Remarks ....................................................................... 618 4.2. Modelling and optimization studies .......................................................... 619 ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/ijmactool 0890-6955/$ - see front matter r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijmachtools.2007.10.017 à Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 532 227 1812; fax: +91 532 244 5101, +91 532 244 5077. E-mail address: vinody@mnnit.ac.in (V. Yadava).