Laser cutting is a modern fabrication process where the cut is made using an amplified light beam – laser. A high-power laser is able to achieve high-quality results for metal cutting.
1. What is Laser Cutting?
An industrial laser for cutting materials uses a motion control system to follow a CNC pattern to be cut onto the material. The focused laser beam is directed at the material, which then either melts or burns by a jet of gas, leaving a clear edge with a high-quality surface finish.
It is a cutting process which enables cutting metallic and non-metallic materials with different thicknesses for metal fabrication works. The cutting operation is based on a laser beam which is guided, formed, and bundled. When the laser beam contacts the work piece, the material heats up to the extent that it melts or vaporises. The whole laser power is concentrated on one point with a diameter of less than a millimetre which provides a clear edge. While traditional metal cutting processes involve applying large-scale tools with enormous power to the metal, the laser beam completes its task without any direct contact to the work piece. This prevents any wearing, deformation and damage to the tool and the work piece.
2. The advantages of Laser Cutting
- High Precision and Accuracy
It offers very high precision and accuracy with its novel cutting technology.
- Low Operating Cost
Compared to the outcome, it offers lower operating cost per the unit amount of cutting.
- Fast Cutting
It is significantly quicker than all other thermal and mechanical cutting methods. Check our article about laser cutting vs plasma cutting to compare the two most prominent metal cutting technologies.
- Low Power Consumption
Considering the speed and accuracy of the provided by laser machines, the power consumption is lower than the other means of cutting.
- Material Versatility
It is suitable for a lot of different materials.
- Flexibility
Compared to the conventional metal cutting methods such as punching or shearing, it allows design flexibility and do not require tools for different cutting shapes.
3. Which metals cut by Laser?
- Carbon Steel ( Mild Steel)
- Stainless Steel
- Aluminium
- Brass
- Copper
- Titanium
4. What are types of Laser Machines?
- CO2 Laser
Modern CO2 machines usually produce the laser beam in a sealed glass tube which is filled carbon dioxide. A high voltage flows through the tube and reacts with the gas particles, increasing their energy and producing light. This strong light creates heat which will vaporise the material and perform cutting task.
- Fiber Laser
Fiber-optic lasers are the newest and most modern types of lasers due to their precise cutting generated different wavelengths. Fiber Lasers use an optical fiber cable made of silica glass to guide the beam. The laser beam generated by the fiber-optic lasers are more straight and smaller.
Thanks to the silica glass power source, fiber-optic lasers are considered as solid-state .This is contrary to CO2 lasers that use gas to create their power. An additional difference between the two forms of power is their wavelengths, with fiber-optic lasers producing smaller short wavelengths resulting with a more precise cut.
For further information, please check our article about Fiber vs Co2 Laser Cutting.
5. What is Novelty Steel offering?
Novelty Steel is an experienced fabricator with various fibre lasers in its machinery park.
With vast CNC Machinery Park and experienced engineering team, Novelty Steel fabricates bespoke sheet metal parts according to the EN 1090-2 European Norms.
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