What Is Laser Cutting
Laser cutting is a procedure where an industrial grade laser is used for cutting different types of materials, including different types of metals, wood, plastic, paper, fabric, glass, ceramics and more. The main purpose of this procedure is precise cutting for creating the desired shape of the material. Laser cutting is typically used in a variety of industrial manufacturing applications in different industries.
Also, many small business owners and hobbyists use this procedure for creating precise contours.
The Laser Cutting Procedure
The laser cutting procedure includes focusing an output of a high-power laser on the place of material that needs to be cut. The directing of the laser beam is typically done through optics. Also, a computer numerical control (CNC) is used for directing the material or the beam that the laser cutting machine generates.
Methods
There are several laser cutting methods that are classified by the manner in which the laser beam works on the material. Namely, there are methods where the materials is melted, burned, vaporized away or blown away.
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Melt and Blow Cut
Melt and blow cutting procedure is also known as fusion cutting. This method includes blowing the previously melted material. When the material is heated to a melting point, it is blown with the use of high-pressure gas.
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Vaporization Laser Cutting
The surface that needs to be cut is melted to boiling point after which a keyhole is generated. After generating the keyhole, the absorptivity of the material increases which enables fast deepening of the hole to the desired depth. This laser cutting method is usually used for cutting non-melting materials such as carbon, thermoset plastics and wood.
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Thermal Stress Cutting
This laser cutting method is generally used for cutting glass and other brittle materials that are sensitive to thermal fracture. The thermal stress cutting method is performed by focusing the laser beam to a certain localized surface. Usually, the surface is heated, which results in a crack of the surface, that needs to be removed.
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Reactive Cutting
The method called reactive cutting is also known as ‘flame cutting’ and ‘burning stabilized laser gas cutting’. This procedure is similar to the oxygen torch cutting procedure; the only difference is that here a laser beam is used as a heat source. Reactive cutting is a method that is most commonly used for cutting steel.
Applications
Laser cutting is used in many industrial applications during the procession of the materials needed for manufacturing the equipment and devices we use every day. To illustrate, laser cutting is the basic procedure used in the manufacturing of: smartphones, computers, medical equipment, rubber stamps, architectural models, promotional items, trophies and much more.
