Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is effected by locally heating the material at the focal point of the focused laser beam above its melting point. The material then melts, burns or vaporizes away leaving an edge with a high quality surface finish. In principle, the cutting of metals with the laser is affected by locally heating the material to above melting point at the focal point of the focused beam. The resulting smelt is ejected by a gas that is injected coaxially to the laser beam, so that an open cut is formed.
In the case of low-alloy steels, in particular, oxygen is typically used as the cutting gas. This process known as laser flame cutting, receives additional energy from the exothermal reaction of the material when heated to above its ignition point. Today laser flame cutting is used industrially for materials up to 40mm thick, though it must be noted that an appropriate width of cut for ejection of the smelt must be taken into account as thickness of material increases.

Disadvantages of laser cutting may include high energy required. The most popular lasers for cutting re Co2 and Nd:YAG, though semiconductor lasers are gaining prominence due to greater efficiency.

Laser cutting advantages

Cutting edges are tight and parallels, Reduced Heat Affected Zone, Possibility to operate on complex profiles and reduced curving radius, Absence of mechanical distortion of the laser worked piece, No influence of the hardness of the material, No problems to cut materials previously.

Organic Materials: Acrylic, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate Rubber, PVC, Wool, Cotton, Leather, Wood
Inorganic Materials: Glass, Ceramic, Quartz, Alumina, Asbestos, Mica, Rocks
Metallic Materials: Steel, Iron, Nickel, Tin, Lead, Aluminium, Titanium, Copper, Molybdenum,Brass, Bronze, Tungsten