Advantages and Disadvantages of Laser Cutting Operations. Learn more now!
Laser cutters are high-energy, focused laser beams that cut sheets of steel, wood, plastic, and other materials into two-dimensional parts in the manufacturing and hobbyist arenas. "Laser" is a commonly used term for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation," which explains the physical science necessary to generate laser light. It is a widely adopted technology suited for the mass production of precise two-dimensional parts.
The laser-cutting process utilizes a computer-generated program called a G-code, a set of machine-readable instructions instructing the machine where to move the laser-cutting head. Once the program is loaded, the material may require additional preparation before loading material onto the cutting bed. Once the material is loaded, a small, high-energy light beam is initiated and focused on one spot to heat the material and initiate the cutting process. As the material heats, the laser is directed to cut multiple parts using a series of mirrors and lenses. The intense heat melts and often vaporizes material as it is directed across the bed while cutting parts from the material sheet. Parts are removed and may be further processed.
Laser cutters are used in a range of applications, including engraving, laser welding, tube cutting, and sheet metal and plate cutting. There are several different types of lasers and methods used for Laser Cutting. These include the following:
Types of Laser Cutting:
Laser cutters are used to cut a wide range of materials. The most commonly cut materials are listed as follows:
Laser cutting can produce toxic gasses or has difficulty with certain materials. These materials that should avoid the laser-cutting process include:
Caution is required when operating laser cutters. Like most industrial machinery, there are dangers (listed below):
This article explores the fundamentals of Laser Cutting, including its Advantages and Disadvantages.
There are many advantages to the widely popular laser-cutting technology. These include the following:
The disadvantages of laser cutting are listed below:
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