Fundaments of Laser Cutting Metal

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Sheet metal laser cutting is a process that involves using a laser beam to cut through sheet metal materials. The process is precise, and efficient, and produces high-quality results. Here are some fundamentals of laser cutting metal:

Laser Beam: The laser beam is generated from a laser resonator and is directed to the material to be cut. The laser beam is typically made up of photons that have a specific wavelength and are highly focused.

Material: The sheet metal material to be cut is placed on a work surface or table. The material should be clean, free of rust or debris, and positioned correctly for cutting.

Focusing Optics: The laser beam is focused onto the material using a set of focusing optics, which directs the beam onto a small spot size. This helps to increase the laser’s power density, enabling it to cut through the material more efficiently.

Gas Assist: A gas, usually oxygen or nitrogen, is used to assist with the cutting process. The gas helps to blow away any molten material that forms during the cutting process and keeps the cutting area clean.

CNC Programming: The laser cutting process is controlled by computer numerical control (CNC) programming. The CNC program tells the laser where to cut, how deep to cut, and at what speed to cut.

Precision: Laser cutting metal is a highly precise process. It can produce cuts with high accuracy, typically within +/- 0.005 inches.

Types of Metal: Laser cutting is suitable for cutting a variety of metals, including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and titanium.

In conclusion, sheet metal laser cutting is a precise and efficient process that involves using a laser beam to cut through metal materials. The process requires careful preparation of the material, focusing optics, gas assist, and CNC programming to achieve high-quality results.

How do we choose a laser cutting machine?

Precision plasma cutting is most suitable for 0.45 ~ 50mm thick carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum as well as within the thickness of 160mm.

(1) the length of the cutting unit costs in part or 6.35 ~ 50mm thick carbon steel with respect to the other process is the lowest.

(2) ease of use and software equipped with the latest CNC, plasma is very easy to use. Because professional process parameters have been built into the nesting software, the operator does not experience requirements.

(3) productivity thickness greater than 6.35mm, cutting speed of the laser. When the thickness is less than 50mm, cutting speed in flames. Plasma-cutting technology is the fastest of all, efficient.

(4) cutting precision steel cutting element tolerance ± (0.38 ~ 0.5) mm. For less than the thickness (9.5mm) sheet, the slope of the 2o ~ 3o. For a thicker than 12.7mm thick plate, the slope is within 1o.

(5) edge quality and metallurgical properties of the heat-affected zone are very small, typically <0.25mm. Section good weldability, smooth dross.

(6)Maintenance requirements are relatively simple.

How does a laser cutting machine work?

A laser-cutting machine works by focusing a beam of laser light onto a piece of material. The laser light is so high powered, that when focused, it raises the temperature of the material to be cut high enough to melt or vaporize the material, in the small area the beam is focused. Often, an assist gas is used to help push the molten material from the cut area. This is especially true for cutting metals or thick sheets of material like plywood.

To cut shapes, the laser head is moved, using some form of the gantry to position the beam over new material, causing a line to be cut instead of a small pinhole. The types of motion systems include rack and pinions, ball screws, and linear motors. Linear motors are the most expensive but are the fastest and most accurate. Rack and pinions provide nearly the same speed and accuracy, but for a lower price. Some small hobbyist lasers might also use a timing belt and stepper motors to move their laser head. In all cases, a system with serves, and encoder feedback adds greatly to machine cutting accuracy, as does a rigid frame, isolated from vibration.

As for the type of laser used for laser cutters, typically industrial lasers use CO2 or fiber lasers, with the occasional diode laser or Nd: YAG disk laser sprinkled in, while hobby lasers are typically sealed CO2 or diode lasers, of lower power. The industrial lasers are typically 1–8kW, while the hobby lasers are typically somewhere between .25 W to 40W, so industrial lasers are 100-1000 times stronger than hobbyist lasers.

What are the advantages of using a laser cutter over an ordinary saw for cutting out sheet metal parts?

1. The laser processing does not need to open the mold, does not need to make the mold for the different designs, and saves the massive production cost;

2. Laser processing has high flexibility and unlimited graphics. No matter the simple or complex shapes, they can be cut and formed by laser at one time, and automatic cutting layout and nesting can be realized, which improves the utilization rate of materials;

3. Laser processing has the advantages of fast cutting speed, high precision, smooth cutting edge, and no burr, reducing the defective rate of products and shortening the production cycle of products;

4. The sheet metal laser cutting machine will not produce chemical substances harmful to the human body and the environment, meeting the national environmental protection requirements. It reduces environmental pollution and helps furniture manufacturers to optimize the working environment;

Bending of sheet metal processing is the process of turning flat sheet metal into a solid through a pressure device and a special mold. The bending machine is the most widely used in sheet metal processing, and the use method of the bending machine is also quite rigorous;