Laser Cutting: Process, Uses, Types, and Materials
A laser cutter is a machine that employs a high-energy focused laser beam to cut into various plate or sheet materials, creating 2-dimensional parts for both hobbyist and industrial applications. Typical materials include wood, steel, and some plastics.Get more news about laser cutting line,you can vist our website!
The term laser stands for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation,” describing the physics involved in generating laser light. While the fundamental physics of lasers remains unchanged, there are three common implementations of this technology: CO2, Fiber, and Nd:YAG lasers.
Laser Cutting Process: How Laser Cutting Works
A laser cutter directs a very small-diameter, high-energy light beam vertically onto a sheet or plate of material, cutting it into a 2-dimensional profile by moving the laser in the X and Y directions along the machine bed. The beam melts or burns through the material following a pattern determined by a set of computer-generated instructions called G-code. Sometimes, a high-pressure stream of gas blows the molten material out of the bottom of the cut area, preventing waste material from remaining and solidifying after the beam moves on. In other cases, the laser beam simply vaporizes the material.
The method of generating the laser beam varies between technologies, but they all follow these steps:
Generation of G-code File: Before any cutting occurs, the G-code must be generated for the cutting job. G-code consists of machine-readable instructions that guide the laser cutting head’s movement. For simple shapes, operators can create instructions manually. More complex shapes require CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) software to automatically generate G-code from a supplied CAD (computer-aided design) file. This G-code is then sent to the machine via Wi-Fi or a USB drive.
Laser Beam Generation: The laser beam originates inside the resonator. Different laser technologies use various mediums to generate the laser. However, the physics of beam generation remains consistent across different laser technologies. When an electron is stimulated by a photon, it absorbs energy and moves to a higher energy state. An exact amount of energy from a photon is required to energize an electron to a specific energy state. This process is known as stimulated absorption.
In summary, laser cutting is a versatile fabrication process suitable for a wide range of materials, including metal, plastic, wood, and gemstone.
