Investigation of the Effects of CO2 Laser Cutting Parameters on Kerf Width in PMMA based on Box–Behnken Design and Response Surface Methodology

Authors

  • Weerapol Taptimdee Department of Automated Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University
  • Pariwat Nasawat Department of Logistics and Process Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University
  • Prawach Chourwong Department of Logistics and Process Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University

Keywords:

CO2 Laser, PMMA Cutting, Kerf Widths

Abstract

CO2 laser cutting is widely used for polymer processing applications because it provides high precision and flexibility. However, the difference in kerf width between the top and bottom surfaces remains an important factor affecting the quality of the workpiece. This research focuses on investigating the effects of laser power, cutting speed, and focal distance in cutting PMMA with a CO2 laser, which affect the kerf width, in order to determine the most suitable cutting conditions. The experimental design in this research employed the Box–Behnken Design (BBD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and the results were analyzed using statistical techniques. The experimental results showed that laser power and cutting speed were the main factors that affected kerf width. The kerf widths of the top kerf (TK) and bottom kerf (BK) tended to decrease as cutting speed increased, while higher laser power caused the kerf widths of TK and BK to increase. In addition, a high focal distance resulted in higher kerf widths of TK and BK. The response surface modeling indicated a clear interaction between laser power and cutting speed, which significantly affected kerf width. The findings of this research can serve as a guideline for selecting appropriate cutting parameters to improve the cutting quality of PMMA workpieces, and they can be further applied at the industrial level in the future.

References

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Published

2026-02-27

How to Cite

[1]
W. Taptimdee, P. Nasawat, and P. Chourwong, “Investigation of the Effects of CO2 Laser Cutting Parameters on Kerf Width in PMMA based on Box–Behnken Design and Response Surface Methodology”, JEIT, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 87–102, Feb. 2026.

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Engineering and Industrial Technology, Kalasin University, Vol. 4 No. 1 (January – February 2026)

Section

Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Engineering and Industrial Technology, Kalasin University

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