A laser cutter applies a beam from a laser to slice through an object with the aid of a computer system to give the laser cutter directions. The laser nears the material being cut from the side. If there isn’t an edge of an object to approach, then a puncture can be produced. The laser beam is pulsed and concentrated onto the object to be cut so that a hole is made and cutting can be continued. Oftentimes, a spray of air, oil or water onto the object happens after the cutting to clean away left-behind steel. It can additionally prevent “splash back” of material onto the cutting lens. Laser beams are concentrated by means of lenses. A laser beam can be concentrated enough to be 0.004 inch. Lasers take a large amount of energy to function. This may be the only disadvantage that they have in the environment for manufacturing. Lasers can cut a wide range of materials such as steel, aluminum, wood, fabric, foam, plastic, leather, vinyl, paper, rubber, acrylic, film, glass and ceramics.
Laser Categories
One type of laser is a CO2 laser. In this category of laser, a mixture of gas is brought to an energized state so that the laser to function. The mixture contains the elements helium, carbon and nitrogen. Another type of laser employed in laser cutting is a neodymium (Nd) laser. This laser employs the exact employability as the CO2 laser, but uses a crystal with diminutive amounts of neodymium in it rather than a mixture of gas for the medium. A third type of laser is the laser referred to as neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd-YAG). The distinction between the two types of lasers is just in employability. The neodymium laser has a slow speed of repetition and can be employed in high energy uses and for boring. Nd-YAG is used for boring and engraving but is extremely high energy.
Cutting Methods
There are many methods that a laser cuts an object. In vaporization, which is for objects like metals that are non-ferrous, the object is heated faster than it can dissipate the heat and it is vaporized. The material reaches an extremely high temperature, 50,000 degrees, the cut or kerf elongates, and vaporization continues. In the cutting process referred to as melt and blow, a gas under high pressure blows the molten substance away from the cutting area. The material that is cut is usually a metal. In thermal stress cracking, a brittle material comes into contact with the heat from the laser and a stress crack is made. The crack is followed through with the beam from the laser to continue the cut. This process is usually used during cutting of glass. There are several other methods of laser cutting as well.
Advantages of Using a Laser Cutter
By employing a laser beam to cut, the object is not contaminated during the cutting process since the object being cut does not meet with a cutting tool. The employment of the laser cutter also hurries up the line of production processes. The light beam is also very accurate, offering an extremely decisive cut. There is less wear and tear on the machinery used because there is no laser wear. This also saves on costs since there is not as much repair involved in the machinery. From engraving to cutting, laser cutters have several uses and there are several benefits to employing a laser in the cutting process in a manufacturing environment.
Marc Anderes is the Vice President of Operations of Maloya Laser which specializes in Metal Manufacturing and Laser Cutting with advanced laser technologies, for medical, aerospace, scientific and transportation needs.