Laser-based cutting of Muga silk fabric

Abstract

This study explores the feasibility of utilizing laser technology to cut Muga silk fabric. A 90 W CO₂ laser machine integrated with the CNC system was employed to cut a single layer of Muga silk fabric of approximately 0.25 mm thickness. Laser power was varied from 10 W to 90 W with increments of 20 W, and the cutting speed from 50 mm/s to 350 mm/s with increments of 75 mm/s. The results of the study revealed that laser cutting at a low power of 10 W was not successfully achieved, but higher power settings allowed for successful cutting, with a clear indication of extreme blackening and increased overcutting. Desirability function analysis (DFA) has been utilized to determine the optimum parameter setting, which results in the most acceptable values of the considered responses.