As part of this process, the material is melted, burned and vaporized, which takes place in the presence of an intense laser beam. Although this method is very effective, it is crucial to understand the many advantages and disadvantages of laser cutting.
Using a laser cutter, the cutting process is made possible by focusing light on the target material to create a narrow laser beam. However, before cutting, you need to have a specific target based on your model or pattern. This must be done before starting to cut. Some of the most difficult materials are difficult for manufacturers to cut.
However, since the invention of the laser cutter, the process has become a lot easier. This section will walk you through everything you need to know about laser cutting. In addition to this, it discusses the capabilities of laser cutting and its pros and cons.
How does it work?
Since CO2 lasers are the most widely used type of laser today, both in the hobbyist and professional fields, we will focus on how this particular type of laser works. "Amplification of light by emitting radiation" is the full meaning of the acronym "laser", which stands for the term itself.
This shows that the laser is an extremely bright light source, magnified using a series of mirrors and lenses to provide enough energy to cut through any matter. It's an easy process to grasp if we evaluate it as follows:
The beam is generated using a laser resonator, which consists of a closed glass vessel with beam splitters facing each other. The tube contains carbon dioxide and other gases such as hydrogen, nitrogen and helium. By using discharges or diodes, these gases combine to react.
Once the beam is generated, it continues through the machine, where other mirrors, which are deliberately placed, are deflected in all directions, eventually reaching the laser cutting head.
Finally, when the beam enters the laser cutting head, it passes through a curved lens that amplifies the power of the laser and concentrates it into a spot of light. This allows the laser to create precise holes in the cut material. Cutting or engraving with a laser can be done by modifying several factors, such as beam intensity and speed.
Laser Cutting and Engraving:
Laser cutting and engraving processes are examples of subtractive manufacturing, which means that the process starts with a physical item that already exists. The laser beam then removes the material to create the final picture. However, laser cutting and laser engraving are not the same thing at all. There is a difference between the two.
Laser cutting technology is a precise method in which a laser beam directly hits the surface of a material, heating the material to the point of complete vaporization or melting, leaving a clean cut.
Laser engraving is a very similar procedure to laser cutting; however, with laser engraving, the intensity of the laser beam is reduced so it only marks the surface of the material rather than cutting through it.
What are the benefits of using laser cutting?
Engineers prefer laser cutting services because of the wide range of benefits that can be gained from using them. There are several advantages to using laser cutting, including adaptability, precision, repeatability, speed, non-contact cutting, superior quality, cost-effectiveness, versatility and automation.
flexibility:
With laser cutting there is no need to switch equipment for each cut. Within a given material thickness, the same cutting configuration can be used to produce many different shape cuts. In addition, delicate cuts do not present any difficulties.
accurate:
The precision achieved by laser cutting is one of the most significant advantages compared to other thermal cutting processes.
Accuracy is +/- 0.1 mm for high accuracy without any post-processing. In most cases, having such a high level of quality means that different tolerances are not required.
speed:
Using laser cutting is much faster than traditional mechanical cutting methods. Especially when more complex cuts are involved.
https://www.atom-stack.com/blogs/news/how-to-buy-a-laser-engraving-machine
