Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser in cutting different kinds of materials, mostly metals such as carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel and copper alloys. It is widely used in the metal fabrication industry to increase cutting speed and cutting capacity, reduce production costs, increase productivity and improve cutting quality.

A laser or LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a device that generates a highly concentrated monochromatic and coherent beam of light. The light is produced through the process of stimulated emission.

Among the most commonly used laser in cutting is the carbon dioxide laser (CO2 laser), a kind of gas laser that is also used in welding. It is capable of emitting a maximum of 100 kilowatts at 9.6 µm and 10.6 µm and of cutting 20-30 m of one millimeter-thick material in a minute.

Cutting is done by aiming the energy produced by the high-power laser at a small portion of the object to be cut. That small portion is pierced first before a cut is made.

From the small hole, a cut is created either by moving the beam across the area of the material being cut, or by moving the object while the laser is kept still. One can employ both methods. As the intense beam of light strikes the part of the object or material, the latter?s temperature rises, causing it to melt, burn and evaporate even without sufficient amount of heat.

Not all materials require the same amount of laser power (the rate at which energy is delivered by the light). Thicker materials need more laser power while thinner ones need lesser laser power. Usually, carbon dioxide laser cutting is done with 1,000 to 1,500 watts. Materials such as steel need more than two kW.

Compared to other metal cutting procedures, laser cutting is far more advantageous, although it has some disadvantages, too. Its primary advantages are precision, cutting quality, cutting speed and economy. Among its disadvantages is its high voltage requirement. There is also risk of getting serious burns from the laser beam.

Laser Cutting provides detailed information on Laser Cutting, Laser Cutting Companies, Laser Cutting Machines, Laser Cutting Services and more. Laser Cutting is affiliated with Lean Manufacturing Seminars [http://www.e-LeanManufacturing.com].

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