Laser Assisted Machining of Gelcast Fused Silica Ceramic Composites

Fused Silica ceramics possess low thermal expansion high chemical resistance excellent optical qualities low dielectric constant low loss tangent and chemical properties. With exceptional physical and chemical properties fused silica has various applications such as antenna windows optical devices heat shields high power lasers precision instruments semiconductor manufacturing aerospace applications and these applications continuously increasing. For machining efficiently these high precision elements it is exceptionally difficult using conventional metal cutting methods because of higher cutting force and excessive tool wear which leads to a lower material removal rate and high cost. Laser assisted machining is effective method for improving the machinability of difficult to machine material like ceramics. Fabrication and machining of ceramic composites and development of regression models are very much essential for user industries like aerospace and defence.