Carbonization Region Measurement in Vegetable Tanned Goat Leather using Machine Vision System for Evaluating Performance Measures of Leather Cut Contour Edges

Due to the widespread application and popularity of lasers in recent times, the usage of laser cutting for leather applications has increased as well. Laser technology is needed to provide more consistent and effective results while cutting leathers that include complicated geometries particularly in several sectors where leathers are often utilized such as footwear, apparel and fashion accessories. In this investigation, the diode laser was preferred for leather cutting due to its regulated power density, compact size and portability whereas the CO2 lasers are uncontrollable. The benefit of employing a diode laser is that it can overcome some of the disadvantages associated with CO2 lasers such as power consumption, carbonization layer and geometric inaccuracy. There is no technique available to measure the carbonization at the leather cut contour edges. Hence an attempt has been made to investigate the carbonization percentage with the help of a machine vision system to improve the machining process. The technique of measuring carbonization can be used effectively in the leather industry for the accurate measurement of carbonization. The lower duty cycle with moderate pulse width modulation (PWM) and amplitude could produce lower carbonization layer. PWM frequency has a high influential role on determining carbonization in leather cutting.