Understanding The Industrial Laser Cutting Laser cutting machines and systems are used to cut a wide variety of industrial materials of varying thickness to just about any shape. The quick, clean, accurate and the adaptable machines are the preferred choice for various laser cutting across a wide range of industries.
These machines are used to either drill or cut stainless steels, aluminum, mild steel, and textiles or organic materials such as leather, cardboard, composites or the flexible circuits. The machines are designed for cutting fast and accurately and have a low cost of ownership. The Laser Cutting
Technology
This form of technology user laser to cut materials and it is typically for the industrial manufacturing applications. The laser works by directing the output of a high-power laser by the user of the computer at the material that is to be cut. The material will then either melt, be burned, vaporizes away or is blown away by a jet of gas. It leaves an edge with a high-quality surface finish. The industrial laser cutters are used to cut flat-sheet material as well as the structural and piping materials.
Industrial Laser Cutting The industrial laser cutting is a mature industrial process with high flexibility, non-contact and stress-free processes that provide finished parts and components right from the machine. This form of cutting is very precise with excellent dimensional stability. The zones affected by heat are very small and involves narrow cut kerfs. Non-Metal Laser Cutting
and Drilling
Organic and plastic materials can be cut by the use of lasers at high processing speeds with an exceptional edge quality. Non-metals such plastics, fabrics, cardboard, wood or leather are all used in a wide range of industries including sign or advertising, fashion, automotive, furniture and packaging. With the non-metals, the laser is used to evaporate or melt the material. For the thicker materials such as acrylics for the sign industry or wood
for the die-boards, they are typically cut by laser drilling machine that use a flying optic. A low-pressure gas flow that has a compressed air blows materials out of the kerf and keeps the cut clean. A galvanometric scanner is in most cases used where it moves the laser beam at very high speeds following the required cut contour thus inducing a limited cut to the part. If the material cannot be cut in one pass, a multiple pass cutting process can this be used. The scanner head assisted cutting is used in the electronic industry for the de-paneling on the PCB boards or in the laser-cut leather applications. Metal Laser Cutting
and Drilling
There are two main cutting processes in the metal cutting using the laser technologies. There are fusion cutting and the flame cutting. In the fusion cutting, the laser beam melts the metal while a high-pressure inert gas stream is used to blow the molten material out of the kerf. Fusion cutting is used in the in cutting of stainless steel and aluminum thus leaving the user with a clean, shiny and dross free edge. In the cutting or drilling of the mild steel, the laser drilling machine uses the laser beam to heat up the metal surface above a given temperature. A reactive assist gas, such as oxygen will cause an exothermic reaction that will melt the metal. Flame cutting is thus faster than fusion cutting. However, the edge quality of fusion cutting is better.
Benefits of Laser Drilling - It is a non-contact process - Highly accurate with consistent results - There is precise control of the heat input - Ability to produce small diameter holes with high aspect ratios - There is an ease of programming and adaptability to automation. - There is increased production rate with faster setup times and less tooling. - There is high flexibility in the changeovers for the prototypes used. - There is capacity for a high degree beam manipulation - The latest laser machines have the ability to drill multiple features simultaneously. - Ability to process a wide range of materials. Top features to look for when buying laser drilling machine
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The durability of the machine The machine should have a low power consumption Free maintenance A long functional life High reliability High performance User-friendly operation
Lasers make it possible for machines to make small, blind, shaped and precisely tapered holes. These machines can drill even the steep holes and produce the difficult-to-machine materials.