Where Are Laser Cutters Used in Industry?

Laser cutting technology is a processing method that uses a high-intensity laser beam to cut, penetrate or engrave materials. Laser cutting machines are usually composed of lasers, focusing lenses, motion control systems, and auxiliary gas supply systems. The laser beam is focused through a lens system to form a concentrated high-energy point on the surface of the material, instantly heating the material to a molten or vaporized state, thereby realizing the cutting process.

Laser cutting technology is suitable for a variety of materials, including metals (such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, etc.), plastics, wood, etc. It has high precision and fast cutting speed, and can achieve complex geometric shapes and detailed designs. Therefore, it is widely used in manufacturing, automobiles, aerospace, electronics, and construction.

With the advancement of Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing, laser cutting technology continues to develop, and equipment functions are becoming increasingly diversified, including more intelligent automatic adjustment systems, real-time monitoring and fault diagnosis. At the same time, with the advancement of laser light sources and material science, laser cutting has also shown a wide range of application potential in areas such as cutting thicker materials and cutting at higher speeds.

In short, laser cutting technology has become an indispensable and important processing method in modern manufacturing with its unique advantages, and will continue to develop and innovate in the future.

The working principle of the laser cutting machine mainly involves the process of laser generation, transmission, focusing and cutting materials. The following is a detailed introduction to the working principle of the laser cutting machine:

Laser generation:

Laser cutting machines usually use solid, gas or fiber lasers to generate lasers. Lasers are generated by exciting atoms or molecules in a medium (such as a solid crystal, gas or optical fiber) to emit light.

The excitation source (such as current or light source) inside the laser excites the medium, resulting in the release of energy to form a laser beam.

Laser transmission:

After the laser beam is output from the laser, it is transmitted through a reflector, optical fiber or light pipe. This process ensures that the laser beam can reach the cutting head efficiently.

In large machines, a reflector is usually used to direct the laser beam to the desired position, while when using a fiber laser, it can be directly transmitted through the optical fiber.

Focusing:

The laser beam is focused at the position of the cutting head, and the diameter of the laser beam is reduced to a very small point through a focusing lens, thereby greatly increasing the energy density of the laser.

The temperature of this focal point can reach several thousand degrees Celsius, which is enough to instantly melt or vaporize metal or other materials.

Cutting process:

When the focused laser beam hits the surface of the material, the material is immediately heated to a molten or vaporized state.

While cutting, auxiliary gas (such as oxygen or nitrogen) is sprayed into the cutting area. Oxygen can provide more oxidation reaction and speed up the cutting speed, while nitrogen is used to prevent oxidation and is suitable for higher quality cutting.

The auxiliary gas can not only help blow away the molten material, but also cool the cutting area and improve the cutting effect.

Motion control:

The laser cutting machine is equipped with a sophisticated CNC system, which controls the movement path of the cutting head through computer software.

Users can set cutting parameters according to the design drawings, including cutting speed, laser power, focus position, etc., to ensure the accuracy and quality of cutting.

The laser cutting machine achieves high-speed and precise cutting of various materials through the generation, transmission, focusing and precise motion control of the laser. This working principle makes laser cutting machines popular in the manufacturing industry, suitable for sheet metal processing, electronic components, automotive parts, aerospace and other fields, and promotes the modernization and efficiency of industrial production.

Laser cutting technology can generally be divided into the following main cutting types according to different application requirements and material types.

1. CO2 laser cutting machine:

Using carbon dioxide laser, it is suitable for cutting non-metallic materials (such as wood, plastic, paper, etc.) and thin metal materials.

2. Fiber laser cutting machine:

Using fiber laser, it is widely used in metal processing, with fast cutting speed and high energy efficiency, suitable for cutting various metal materials.

3. Solid laser cutting machine:

Using solid laser (such as Nd:YAG laser), it is suitable for cutting thick metal materials and is usually used for high-precision applications.

4. Pulse laser cutting machine:

Cutting materials through pulse laser, suitable for fine processing and high-temperature sensitive materials.

Laser cutting machines are classified into various categories and are suitable for different materials and applications. Choosing the right type of laser cutting machine according to specific production needs can effectively improve processing efficiency and cutting quality. Click here to contact Suntop Laser now to learn more about laser cutting.

Laser cutting machines stand out in many industries with their unique technical advantages. Here are some of the main advantages of laser cutting machines:

1. High-precision cutting

Laser cutting machines use a focused laser beam for cutting, which can achieve extremely high cutting accuracy. Its spot diameter is only tens of microns, which is suitable for processing complex and detailed graphics, and the error is usually within ±0.1mm. This makes laser cutting machines widely used in industries that require high precision, such as aerospace, medical equipment, electronics and electrical industries.

2. High efficiency

The cutting speed of laser cutting machines is faster than traditional cutting methods, and can usually reach a cutting speed of tens of meters per minute. This efficiency is particularly significant in large-scale production, which can significantly improve productivity and thus reduce unit production costs.

3. Flexibility and adaptability

Laser cutting machines can easily cope with the cutting needs of different materials, including metal, plastic, wood, acrylic, leather, etc. In addition, they can quickly switch to different cutting tasks by changing the cutting program, adapting to the needs of small-batch diversified production.

4. Minimal material waste

The cutting gap (incision width) in the laser cutting process is usually very small, which reduces the waste of raw materials. In addition, through computer-aided design software, laser cutting machines can maximize the use of materials and maximize the utilization of sheet cutting.

5. Non-contact cutting

Laser cutting machines are non-contact cutting, which means that the tool does not directly contact the material, reducing the risk of material deformation. At the same time, it also avoids the replacement and maintenance costs caused by tool wear.

6. Complex shape cutting

Laser cutting machines can easily cut complex geometric shapes and delicate patterns, and are particularly suitable for engraving and cutting fine artworks, logos, decorative parts, etc. This ability makes laser cutting machines very suitable for the design industry and personalized customization market.

7. Less post-processing

The cutting edges produced by laser cutting are very smooth and usually do not require further post-processing or grinding, which saves additional processing time and cost.

8. Automation and intelligence

Equipped with high-tech control systems and software, the cutting process can be precisely controlled by computer. Many laser cutting machines support integration with automated production lines to achieve fully automated production, improving production efficiency and consistency.

9. Environmental protection and safety

Less physical contact and wear during laser cutting means less waste and noise. In addition, many laser cutting machines are equipped with advanced smoke exhaust and dust filtration systems, which can reduce environmental pollution during the cutting process and meet modern environmental protection requirements.

10. Long life and low maintenance

Laser cutting machines usually have a long life and relatively low maintenance requirements. Compared with traditional mechanical cutting machines, laser cutting machines have a lower failure rate, which saves companies maintenance and replacement costs.

Laser cutting machines have become an important processing tool in modern manufacturing due to their high efficiency, high precision, flexibility and environmental protection. Click here to contact Suntop Laser now for more details.