The engineering and industrial procedures surrounding metalworking have changed drastically over the years. These days, innovations have yielded high-performance solutions for metalworking applications. Laser cutting is an integral component for the industry today. The method ensures quality and precision as well as flexible production. For those who are new to laser cutters, there are a few crucial concepts to understand.
The What
Metal laser cutters are machines that employ laser technology in the process of cutting or engraving materials. The brains of the system is a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine. It directs high-power focused light beams to burn metal in a predesigned pattern, which engineers create and store as CAD vector files. When the program executes, the worked metal is left with edges that have been cut, melted, and sometimes blown clean, resulting in a high-quality finish.
The How
Although there are many types of lasers that can cut and engrave metals, a CO2 laser is used in most cases. A stream of current causes light beams to emit through a laser tube. This beam focuses on a designated point on the material’s surface. The light’s intensity is high enough to burn, melt or vaporize the material. The CNC then guides the tube along the cutting line recorded in the CAD vector file. This process repeats until the design is finished.
The Why
The highest precision cuts are only possible through laser technology. The quality is a quantum leap better than that seen through traditional methods. Laser cutting is an excellent way to increase productivity. It can handle simple or complex shapes. No additional tooling is required when employing metal cutting lasers. Materials do not deform because the process executes without any direct physical contact.
Knowing is Half the Battle!
There you have three basic, crucial concepts about how a metal laser cutter works. There is a wealth of information about the specifics as well as how they can pertain to specific applications. The what, the how, and the why are virtually identical.
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