Laser cutting is a technological process where powerful, focused lasers are used to engrave or cut various materials with extreme precision. Laser cutting can be applied to materials such as wood, paper, and acrylic, but it can also be used on many different metals. While laser cutting is frequently used in industrial manufacturing (such as the aircraft and automobile industries), it is also used in the art world for projects like sculpting and fabric cutting. But how exactly does laser cutting work?
How Laser Cutting Works
The process of laser cutting involves focusing a high-density laser beam on a material to burn, vaporize, or melt it in a specific pattern. There are two types of machines that are used in laser cutting: gantry and galvanometer machines. With gantry machines, the machine itself moves so that the laser focuses on the correct spot; however, these machines tend to be fairly slow, so they are not commonly used. On the other hand, galvanometer machines use mirrors to direct the beam of the laser, making them significantly faster than gantry machines—and more widely used.
In addition to the different machinery that is used, there are also a few different types of lasers used in laser cutting:
How Laser Cutting Is Used:
In addition to cutting completely through materials, laser cutting can also be used to create shallow cuts on the surface (called “kiss cuts”), which allows designs to be engraved on different objects. This type of laser cutting can be utilized for business purposes, such as engraving logos on products; additionally, things like tablets and phones can be engraved with personalized messages or quotes.
How Laser Cutting Works
The process of laser cutting involves focusing a high-density laser beam on a material to burn, vaporize, or melt it in a specific pattern. There are two types of machines that are used in laser cutting: gantry and galvanometer machines. With gantry machines, the machine itself moves so that the laser focuses on the correct spot; however, these machines tend to be fairly slow, so they are not commonly used. On the other hand, galvanometer machines use mirrors to direct the beam of the laser, making them significantly faster than gantry machines—and more widely used.
In addition to the different machinery that is used, there are also a few different types of lasers used in laser cutting:
CO2 Lasers: With CO2 lasers, an electrical current is passed through a mixture of gases—in this case, mostly carbon dioxide—which generates the laser. Since they are low-powered and inexpensive compared to others, CO2 lasers are the most commonly used types of laser cutters. CO2 lasers can be used on glass, paper, wood, leather, and some types of plastic, but are too weak to be used on most metals.
Neodymium Lasers: When a metal laser cutter is needed, neodymium lasers are used. Instead of a gaseous mixture, the laser is generated through a solid crystal made of neodymium. Neodymium lasers are much stronger than CO2 lasers due to their small wavelength; as such, they are used to cut through thicker materials, like metals and some types of ceramics. However, neodymium lasers tend to wear down more easily than CO2 lasers because of their high intensity.
Fiber Lasers: This third type of laser cutter generates lasers by amplifying light through fiber optic cables. Fiber lasers are very similar to neodymium lasers in terms of wavelength and beam intensity, but they are more durable than neodymium lasers, so they do not need to be repaired as often.
How Laser Cutting Is Used:
In addition to cutting completely through materials, laser cutting can also be used to create shallow cuts on the surface (called “kiss cuts”), which allows designs to be engraved on different objects. This type of laser cutting can be utilized for business purposes, such as engraving logos on products; additionally, things like tablets and phones can be engraved with personalized messages or quotes.