Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is (as explained by it’s name) a sort of technology where a laser is utilized to cut materials and it is regularly applied within the industrial manufacturing sector (for instance for the cutting of flat sheet materials in addition to the materials to be used for piping and structural purposes). However, laser cutting has become more and more employed by small businesses, hobbyists and also secondary schools as part of the D.T. (Design Technology) curriculum. In simple terms this method functions by directing (through the use of a computer) the output of a high power laser at the material that needs to be cut. This material is consequently burned, melted, vaporized or even blown away by a jet of gas, inducing the material being having an edge with a high quality surface finish.

There are 3 main kinds of lasers which may be useful for the process of laser cutting, with some being more desirable for specific purposes than others. The CO2 laser, for example, are the best option for the processes of boring, cutting, engraving and scribing and perhaps they are employed for the cutting of numerous materials in the industrial sector (such as aluminium, stainless steel, titanium along with paper, wood, fabrics and even wax!). Neodymium (Nd) lasers on the other hand can be used for boring and for processes where high energy but low repetition is required. The 3rd type of laser, neodymium yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd-YAG), is most used for processes needing extremely high levels of power and for boring and engraving, resulting in this type of laser being primarily employed for scribing and cutting metals and ceramics. However, all three laser types are ideal for use within the entire process of welding.

The process of laser cutting could be thought to have many perks over other ways of ‘cutting’. For example, when compared to ‘mechanical cutting’ (relating to the by using power-driven machine tools such as drill presses, lathes and saws either by human ‘machinists’ or via Cad), laser cutting has advantages such as easier work holding and increased precision as the laser beam does not get worn-out with time. Also as laser cutting involves merely a very small heat-affected zone, there's less potential for materials warping whilst being cut in this manner. Laser cutting can also be more precise and more energy-efficient for the effective cutting of sheet metal compared to the use of ‘plasma cutting’ (involving the use of a plasma torch).