Laser cutting is a type of manufacturing that uses a high-powered laser beam to cut, engrave, or burn through materials. The process is typically used in industrial applications, but is also commonly found in schools and hobbyists.
The main advantage of laser cutting is the ability to create precise and clean cuts on material. However, the process can be difficult to master, especially in applications in the micron range.
Laser Cuts
Laser cutting is a process where a beam of light is used to cut materials. It is a powerful tool that can be used to create intricate patterns and shapes in various different materials.
It is a versatile method of manufacture and can be used to cut materials such as stainless steel, tungsten, nickel, brass, aluminium, copper, and more. It can also be used to create complex designs in glass and wood.
When using a laser, a design is created and sent to the machine through a computer numerical control (CNC) system. The CNC will then instruct the laser to move along a gantry in order to make precise cuts.
The laser cutting process can be used on a wide variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and even paper and textiles. It is a highly versatile tool that offers numerous advantages over other processes, including reduced contamination and easier workholding.
Laser Sublimation
Laser cutting is a technique that uses high-powered light to cut through materials. It is more precise than other types of cutting, such as machining or sawing.
The laser usually uses a motion control system or a special programming system called G-code to control the laser’s movements. This gives the laser instructions on where to move and how much power to use, which allows it to make thousands of tiny cuts through a piece of material very precisely.
It can also be used to engrave images, foreign script, company logos, and other graphics onto wood plaques or colored plastic and metal plates. The images are not burned and the cut edges are very clean.
The main benefit of this type of cutting is that it does not damage the material. However, it can create a lot of heat if the part is small and has many details. This could lead to the part catching fire or melting.
Laser Melting
Laser melting is an additive manufacturing process which uses a laser to melt and fuse metallic powders together. The metal powders are used to build complex 3D components with very low material waste.
In addition, the high power density of the laser can be used to cut a wide range of materials, including steels, aluminum, and titanium. This means that parts can be fabricated in very small volumes.
SLM is a layer-by-layer technology that requires many complex process parameters to be carefully tuned and optimized in order to produce defect-free parts. For example, the laser power, plate temperature, pre-heat temperature (including the repetitions and speed), laser scan velocity, hatch distance, and hatch style have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the component.
Laser Reactive Gas Cutting
Laser reactive gas cutting is a process that involves laser melting of materials in a coaxial nozzle. A reactive jet of oxygen or nitrogen is produced, and it reacts with the molten metal to generate additional heat. This energy is released in the form of exothermic redox reactions that can increase the cutting speed and improve the cut quality.
Reactive gas laser cutting is suitable for machining carbon steel in thicknesses up to 1 mm, while it can also be used to cut stainless steel in thicker thicknesses. The laser power required to perform reactive gas cutting depends on the type of resonator.
Resonator types include fast axial flow, slow axial flow, transverse flow and slab. A fast axial flow resonator circulates the gas mixture at high velocity, using a turbine or blower. A slow axial flow or transverse flow resonator circulates the gas mix at a lower velocity, requiring less pressurization or glassware. Slab or diffusion cooled resonators require no pressurization or glassware.
