Ceramic engraving using pulse fiber laser: numerical simulation and experiment

Ceramic-based products are increasingly utilized in various industries, including precision manufacturing, healthcare, and consumer goods. This study introduces and subsequently validates a technique for engraving ceramic materials using a pulsed fiber laser using a combination of simulation and experimentation. The material model, thermodynamic parameters and technological parameters of the laser source and laser beam are fully simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics® v.6.1 software. This model aids in the evaluation of processing capabilities and the selection of suitable laser source parameters for ceramic engraving. The pulsed fiber laser source used has a maximum average power of 30 W, a center wavelength of 1064 nm. The thermal interaction of the ceramic material and the laser in the nanosecond short pulse mode between 25 ns and 250 ns was used to model at every pulse and throughout the entire cycle of the pulsed fiber laser. The plot of the sample surface tempera-ture aids in evaluating processing capabilities and selecting appropriate laser source parameters for ceramic engraving. Moreover, the thermally impacted zone on the sample after simulation offers additional information about the engraving depth. The optimal parameters derived from the simulation process were experimentally verified using diverse ceramic samples (fired and unfired types), on both flat and curved surfaces. In the experiments, the laser source was operated at an average power of 20 W to prevent cracking and excessive etching depth. The simulation results allow the selection of these parameters and the experiments achieve an engraving depth of 0.05 mm on the glazed ceramic surface without damaging the specimen. Besides, the experimental results highlight the effectiveness of the short-pulsed fiber laser in engraving both fired and unfired ceramic materials, on flat and curved surfaces, thereby enhancing the value and quality of the products.