Directional and Energy Dependent Optimization of CO₂ Laser Cutting Parameters for Balsa Wood (Ochroma pyramidale)

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Aşçı T.

JOURNAL OF POLYTECHNIC-POLITEKNIK DERGISI, cilt.29, sa.5, ss.1-13, 2026 (ESCI)

Özet

This study experimentally investigates the CO₂ laser cutting performance of balsa wood (Ochroma pyramidale), characterized by its low density and large cell-lumen structure, focusing on the interaction between cutting direction and energy regime. Laser cutting experiments were conducted along two orientations “tangential to the grain (TG) and across the grain (AG)” using high power/high speed (HP/HS) and low power/low speed (LP/LS) parameter combinations. Kerf width was quantitatively evaluated using digital microscopy based on minimum, maximum, and mean values, at 100% cut ratio. The results indicate that, under the HP/HS regime, energy density governs the cutting behavior, leading to a pronounced increase in kerf width, particularly at higher cutting speeds. In contrast, the LP/LS regime yields a more controlled laser and material interaction, producing approximately 20–25% narrower kerf widths and emphasizing the role of material anatomy. In terms of cutting direction, the AG orientation provides more stable and precise cuts under low-energy conditions, whereas the TG orientation is more sensitive to increases in cutting speed. Overall, the findings demonstrate that laser cutting of balsa wood cannot be defined by a single universal parameter set, highlighting the necessity of a dynamic optimization approach based on cutting direction and energy density.