Understanding laser cutting

Posted by venturia on March 28th, 2015

Laser cutting is a great technology that actually uses laser so as to cut through different materials. Usually, laser cutting is used in many industrial manufacturing applications. However, the technology is slowly gaining ground with hobbyists, small businesses as well as schools, for it to work; the output of a very high powered laser is directed through optics. The computer numerical control and laser optics are the used in directing the laser beam or material that is generated. In commercial settings, such a laser used for material cutting involves motion control systems so as to follow a G code or CNC of the pattern that has to be cut into material. This laser bean directed to material may melt, vaporize or burn away. It can also be blow off by the use of jet gas. This leaves an edge which has a very high quality surface finish. Such laser cutters are used in the cutting of flat sheet materials and also for piping and structural materials.

Laser cutting has been around for a long time. Its application in 1965 was to drill holes within diamond dies. The first machine was made by western electric engineer mg research center. Later, laser assisted oxygen cutting was pioneered by the British and it was used for metal cutting. The technology was then used in the 70’s to cut titanium which was many for aerospace applications. Nonmetal materials used CO2 lasers at the time. Laser cutting has been evolving over the years and it keeps getting better every day.

There are different advantages of laser cutting when compared to mechanical cutting. One of the notable things is the fact that work holding becomes very easy and the work piece is not easily contaminated. This is because there are no cutting edges that are more prone to contamination and in turn contaminate the material. Laser cutting is also quite precise. Laser beam never wears as the process goes on and there is a very small chance of the material warping while cutting. Laser systems included small heat affected zones. There are also some materials that are impossible or very difficult to cut by the use of other methods other than laser.

Laser cutting especially doe metals also has its advantages over plasma cutting. It uses less energy and proves to be very precise. One notable fact however is that greater metal thickness is better handled by plasma than laser. There are however developments being made so that the laser machines can have more power. The new laser cutting machines are quickly bridging the gap and may catch up with the plasma ones. Some materials such as steel plate are quite thick and need machines that will work perfectly on them and with time, laser will be able to do a flawless job.

There are different types of lasers used in cutting. There are the CO2 lasers which are perfect for engraving, boring and cutting. There are neodymium Nd and neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet Nd YAG which are of different styles as well as application. It is important to understand this so as to know which laser is best for what activities.

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