CNC machining process of laser cutting

What is laser cutting?

A high-power laser beam is used in the high-precision CNC thermal process known as laser cutting to cut, melt, or burn a sheet of material. It cuts and etches sheet material according to the design specifications using a focused beam of light. It works well with a range of material types, including metals, wood, and polymers, and it can create intricate pieces without the need for a specially made tool.

Due to the method' great repeatability, it may be used for both one-off projects and low- to medium-volume production. Metal manufacturing, such as the production of steel, brass, aluminum, or nickel, benefits greatly from laser cutting. Due to its great precision, dependability, and resulting flawless finishes, it has solidly established itself as a choice in the production of medical equipment.

Unlike CNC machining, laser cutting uses sheet material to produce shapes and forms that are no deeper than 10mm (depending on the type of material).

This article discusses the characteristics of the process and introduces the fundamental distinctions between the various forms of laser cutting. By the end, you will have a general understanding of the technology's fundamental concepts and how they connect to its main advantages and disadvantages.

A powerful laser is used in the CNC cutting technique of "laser cutting" to cut through materials.

By stimulating lasing material with an electrical discharge inside of a container, a high-density light beam is produced in this technique. The workpiece is efficiently cut by melting, vaporizing, or burning through it thanks to the employment of optics to focus the generated laser beam onto it. CNC technology is used to regulate the laser beam's mobility.

Materials for Laser Cutting

Although a wide range of materials, including paper, wood, metal, and rock, can be cut with a laser, this technology is most frequently used to remove material from sheet metal before fabricating things like:

Aluminum Steel

metal stainless

Other metals and copper

Generally speaking, laser cutters work well for cutting relatively thin sheet metal, with maximum thicknesses of 15 mm for aluminum and 6 mm for steel. They typically have a tolerance of 0.2 to 0.1 mm.

Benefits and Limitations of Laser Cutting

The low finishing requirements for laser cut parts are due to the excellent precision of laser cutting. Laser systems reduce the requirement for post-processing heat treatment by producing a limited heat-affected zone.

Laser cutting is more accurate and diverse (in terms of materials) than plasma cutting, but less so than waterjet cutting.

Because of the variety of materials it can work with, its accuracy, and its ability to do both cutting and engraving (a task that cannot be done with a waterjet), laser cutting is the most popular. Additionally, it costs less than waterjet cutting.

Pricing for laser cutting

The price of laser cutting might vary significantly based on the kind of laser and the material used. Uploading your CAD file for a free, no-obligation estimate is the quickest and easiest method to get an idea of how much your sheet metal fabrication project will cost.