FEATURES OF LASER CUTTING IN THE SYNTHESIS OF MANUFACTURING AND HARDENING TECHNOLOGIES FOR STEEL PARTS
The article presents results of a comprehensive study of the influence of laser cutting parameters (laser power, speed of the laser head, auxiliary gas pressure, focal length) on the criteria of forming the laser cutting surface of hot-rolled metal sheets made of steel grades Ст3 (St3), 20, 35, 45, У8А (U8A) and 30ХГСА (30KhGSA). Microstructures, roughness, microhardness and orthogonality of the laser cutting surface are studied. Mathematical models of laser cutting quality criteria (roughness, thermal influence zones, orthogonality of the cutting surface) are constructed that link these criteria with the parameters of laser cutting. The regularities of the distribution of roughness and the zone of thermal influence of the studied steels in the laser cutting zone are revealed. The structure of the laser cutting zones of the studied steels is established. Rational modes of laser cutting are determined and the possibility of combining the laser cutting process and surface hardening of products is established on the example of chain sprockets in one process protected by an author's patent for the invention.