• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1353-1358
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• 2011

LAT(Laser Assisted Turning) is a method that applies a machining process after softening a workpiece in which a preheating process is locally applied to its machining section using laser heat source. LAT shows several advantages, such as high productivity, reduction of manufacturing cost, high quality. Analysis of temperature distribution after preheating for LAT is very difficult due to its very small heat input area and large energy and its movement. Also, the LAT for a square bar is more difficult because the shape of a laser heat source can be changed according to the rotation of the workpiece. In this study, thermal analysis for LAT of square bar was performed using laser heat source projection method. And, the analysis results were compared with the results of the prior study of numerical calculation method. It is thus shown that the proposed method is efficient for the thermal analysis of a shaped bar.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.183-184
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• 2009

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.40-44
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• 2010

Laser assisted machining (LAM) has been researched in order to machine the silicon nitride ceramics economically and effectively. LAM is an effective machining method by local heating of the cutting part to the softening temperature of the silicon nitride using laser beam. When silicon nitride ceramics is heated using a laser beam, the surface of silicon nitride ceramic is softened, oxidized and decomposed. And then surface hardness is decreased. Through machining in low viscosity and hardness conditions, silicon nitride was machined effectively and the life span of tool was increased. The plastic deformation was occurred due to softening of amorphous YSiAlON above $ 1,000^{\circ}C$. Transgranular fracture of ${\beta}-Si_3N_4$ was occurred when YSiAlON was not softened, but mostly intergranular fracture was occurred by the plastic deformation of softened YSiAlON.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2009

In the last few years, lasers have found new applications as tools for ceramic machining which is laser-assisted machining(LAM). LAM process for the machining of difficult-to-machine materials such as structural ceramics, has recently been studied on silicon nitride workpiece for a wide range of operating condition. However, there have been few studies on rake angle in LAM process. In this paper we analyzed difference of machinability between positive and negative rake angle in tools. We have obtained interesting results that we could eliminate chattering, lower specific cutting and cutting ratio in case of positive rake angle. The results suggest that positive rake angled tools can make more plastic deformation and stable cutting of silicon nitride in comparison with negative rake angled one.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.80-85
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• 2010

This study focused on laser assisted machining (LAM) of silicon nitride ceramic that efficiently removes the material through machining of the softened zone by local heating. The effects of laser-assisted machining parameters were studied for cost reduction, and active application in processing of silicon nitride ceramics in this study. Laser assisted machining of silicon nitride allows effective cutting using CBN tool by local heating of the cutting part to the softening temperature of YSiAlON using by the laser beam. When silicon nitride is sufficiently preheated, the surface is oxidized and decomposed and then forms bloating, micro crack and silicate layer, thereby making the cutting process more advantageous. HIPSN and SSN specimens were used to study the machining characteristics. Higher laser power makes severer oxidation and decomposition of both materials. Therefore, HIPSN and SSN specimens were machined more effectively at higher power.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1493-1498
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• 2007

Silicon Nitride ($Si_3N_4$), which is widely used in a variety of applications, is hard-to-machine due to its high hardness. At high temperature (e.g. above $1000^{\circ}C$), however, the machinability can be greatly improved. In this work, we used a $CO_2$ laser with a high absorptivity to $Si_3N_4$ of 0.9 to preheat the surface of a rothting $Si_3N_4$ rod. Preheating and turning of $Si_3N_4$ was executed at the same time. The result of machining was MRR of $8.0mm^3/s$ that is four times faster than normal grinding. Continuous chip formation was observed by a microscope.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.12-16
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• 2009

The engineering ceramic is one of the materials advantageous in various conditions with high strength, endurance at high temperature, abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance, etc. However, due to high strength and high brittleness, ceramic incurs high costs and long time on finishing process required after sintering. So a process for obtaining wanted measurements of them has been studied using the high temperature which makes ceramics softened and heat affected recently. This study makes an estimate of laser-assisted machining (LAM) if an economically practical process for manufacturing precision silicon nitride ceramic parts using laser beam. In this study, mechanical properties of silicon nitride at high temperature were observed. And during the LAM, it was observed that cutting force and tool wear were reduced and oxidation of machined surface was increased according to a increase of laser power.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.35-39
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• 2010

Generally, ceramic material is very difficult to machine due to high strength and hardness. However, ceramic material can be machined at high temperature by plastic flow as metallic material due to the deterioration of the grain boundary glassy phase. Recently, a new method was developed to execute cutting process with CBN cutting tool by local heating of surface with laser. There are various parameters in LAM because it is a complex process with laser treatment and machining. During laser assisted machining, high power results in reducing of cutting force and increasing tool life, but excessive power brings oxidation of the surface. The effect of laser power, feed rate, cutting depth and etc. were investigated on the life of cutting tool. Chips were observed to find out suitable machining conditions. Chips of SSN had more flow-types than HIPSN. It means SSN is easier to machining. The life of cutting tool was increased with increasing laser power and decreasing feed rate and cutting depth.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

Silicon nitride is widely used as an engineering ceramics because it has high strength, abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance even at high temperature. However, machining of silicon nitride is difficult due to its high hardness and brittleness. Laser assisted machining(LAM) allows effective cutting using CBN tool by locally heating the cutting part to the softening temperature of YSiAlON using the laser beam. The effect of preheating depending on process parameters were studied to find out the oxidation mechanism. If silicon nitride is sufficiently preheated, the surface is oxidized and $N_2$ gas is formed and escapes from the material, thereby making the cutting process more advantageous. During laser preheating process before machining, high temperature results in strong oxidation which makes the bloating, silicate layers and micro cracks. Using the results of these experiments, preheating characteristics and oxidation behavior were found out.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.48-56
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• 2009

In this paper, laser-assisted machining(LAM) has been employed to machine hot isostatically pressed (HIPed) Si3N4 work pieces. Due to little residual flaws and porosity, HIPed $Si_3N_4$ work pieces are more difficult to machine compared to normally sintered $Si_3N_4$ workpieces. In LAM, the intense energy of laser was used to enhance machinability by locally heating the workpiece and thus reducing yield strength. In experiments, the laser power ranges from 200W to 800W and the diameter of work pieces is 16mm. While machining, the surface temperature was kept nearly constant by laser heating except for a short period of rise time of max. 58 seconds. Results showed as feed rate increases the surface temperature of $Si_3N_4$ workpieces decreases slightly, whereas the effect of depth of cut is disregardable. With a laser power of 800W, achievable maximal depth of cut as 0.7mm and feed rate was 0.03mm/rev.