Overview on the development and critical issues of water jet guided laser machining technology

Abstract There was no established literature or documentation regarding this due to the competition for the market and confidentiality issues. This article reviews the current status of waterjet guided laser (WJGL) processing. This paper addresses the state-of-the-art development and knowledge in WJGL technology. The paper attempts to support researchers as well as practical engineers who are considering this non-traditional manufacturing method for application in their field. The topic is developed following the history of the water-jet guided laser technology. It outlines the primary aspects of industrial use, their relevant applications, and the variety of laser beam sources available. Here the principle, machine configuration and benefits of the WJGL technology are elaborated. The formation process of water jet, optical characteristics of water, the influence of different factors on the stability of jet are discussed. In this paper different aspect of laser-waterjet coupling like coupling unit, parameters, loss, propagation modes and speckle etc. are discussed. The major factors which affect transmission efficiency are wavelength of laser, focal position and numerical aperture. After giving some more details on the operating principle and its realization, the following sections WJGL-matter interaction, modeling of material removal, laser induced bubble and breakdown are presented. In this paper an attempt is made to present a literature survey on waterjet guided laser technology.