Laser Cutting: Advantages & Inconvenients

02 Dec.,2024

 

Laser Cutting: Advantages & Inconvenients

Laser cutters are high-energy, focused laser beams that cut sheets of steel, wood, plastic, and other materials into two-dimensional parts in the manufacturing and hobbyist arenas. "Laser" is a commonly used term for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation," which explains the physical science necessary to generate laser light. It is a widely adopted technology suited for the mass production of precise two-dimensional parts.

Click here to get more.

The laser-cutting process utilizes a computer-generated program called a G-code, a set of machine-readable instructions instructing the machine where to move the laser-cutting head. Once the program is loaded, the material may require additional preparation before loading material onto the cutting bed. Once the material is loaded, a small, high-energy light beam is initiated and focused on one spot to heat the material and initiate the cutting process. As the material heats, the laser is directed to cut multiple parts using a series of mirrors and lenses. The intense heat melts and often vaporizes material as it is directed across the bed while cutting parts from the material sheet. Parts are removed and may be further processed.

Laser cutters are used in a range of applications, including engraving, laser welding, tube cutting, and sheet metal and plate cutting. There are several different types of lasers and methods used for Laser Cutting. These include the following:

Types of Laser Cutting:

  • CO2 Lasers &#; This laser utilizes carbon dioxide (CO2), Helium (HE), and Nitrogen (N) to optimize the cutting process; Nitrogen help to amplify the energy while Helium helps to dissipate the remaining energy after the cut. These lasers are often used with metals plate but struggle with materials that have high reflectivity and thermal absorption.
  • Fiber Lasers &#; Flexible fiber optic cables carry photons to produce the beam with the assistance of rare earth elements such as erbium, neodymium, thulium, or yttrium. Each element produces different wavelengths for varying applications. These lasers are best suited for cutting reflective materials like brass or gold and, due to the flexibility of the fiber cable, can be mounted to robotic arms. 
  • Nd:YAG lasers &#; This powerful, high-density laser is often used for marking and etching. This laser utilizes a neodymium (Nd) doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystal (Y3Al5O12) which aids the photon acceleration to create a high-intensity beam. Nd:YVO lasers operate similarly with improved power stability, reduced heat, and greater laser intensity. 

Laser cutters are used to cut a wide range of materials. The most commonly cut materials are listed as follows:

  • Acrylic &#; This transparent, rigid material is also known as polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA.
  • Aluminum &#; A reflective material, fiber lasers cut most types of aluminum.
  • Brass &#; Best cut with a fiber laser.
  • Cork &#; Cork can be easily laser-cut or engraved.
  • Felt &#; A fabric that cuts easily, especially if 95%+ wool. 
  • Hardboard &#; Easy to cut but releases fumes from adhesives.
  • Leather &#; This material is easily cut or engraved, often for personalized items
  • Stainless Steel (SS) &#; Fiber lasers are best suited for SS.
  • Steel &#; This includes mild steel and carbon steel. High-power lasers can cut up to 20&#;25 mm plate thickness. 
  • Wood &#; Low-power lasers are used for the different types of wood.
  • Other materials include:

5 Advantages of Laser Cutting in Manufacturing | OneMonroe

Cutting is a common process performed in the manufacturing industry. Materials, as well as preassembled workpieces, often require cutting. While some manufacturing companies use cutting shears, others use newer and more advanced methods, such as laser cutting. Laser cutting lives up to its namesake by exposing materials and workpieces to a high-powered laser, thus cutting through it. It offers several advantages for manufacturing companies, including the following.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Tiper.

#1) Supports All Materials

Laser cutting supports nearly all types of materials. From aluminum and copper to stainless steel and even titanium, it can easily cut through otherwise strong and hard materials Laser cutting essentially uses a laser to melt the material in a concentrated area. As the laser beam heats up, it will melt the material to which it&#;s exposed. Because of the laser beam&#;s high temperature, it can cut through nearly all types of materials, regardless of strength or hardness.

#2) Smooth Edges

Another advantage of laser cutting in manufacturing is that it creates smooth edges. Traditional cutting shears, of course, often create jagged edges. When you cut a piece of material with a pair of shears, the edges will have a sharp and jagged surface. Laser cutting doesn&#;t suffer from this same problem. Since it uses heat, it will melt the material while subsequently creating smooth edges.

#3) Extreme Precision

Laser cutting is very precise. Using it, manufacturing companies can cut through materials to achieve specific dimensions with extreme precision. Some laser cutting machines, in fact, have a dimensional accuracy of roughly 0. inches. That&#;s far more precise than the dimensional accuracy of traditional cutting methods, such as shears. With its extreme precision, laser cutting is a popular choice among manufacturing companies.

There are different types of laser cutting machines. Some of them use CO2 lasers, whereas others use neodymium (Nd) lasers. Regardless, they can all cut through materials with extreme precision.

#4) Automated

Laser cutting can be automated. It supports Computer Numerical Control (CNC) systems. There are CNC laser cutting machines that work in conjunction with a computer program. You can program the cutting process on a computer. The laser cutting machine will then follow those instructions to cut the material according to your specifications.

#5) Energy Efficient

While it still requires energy, laser cutting is considered more energy efficient than many other cutting methods. It allows manufacturing companies to quickly and easily perform cutting processes. Because of the fast speeds at which it operates, laser cutting typically consumes less energy than other cutting processes.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Laser Cutting Machine Manufacturer.