What Is The Difference Between Laser Cutting Technologies?

Laser Cutting is the use of a focused high-power density laser beam to irradiate the workpiece, so that the irradiated material quickly melts, vaporize, ablates,s or reaches the ignition point, and at the same time with the beam coaxial high-speed airflow blows off the molten material, so as to achieve the workpiece cut. Laser cutting is one of the thermal cutting methods.

Laser cutting can be divided into four categories: laser vaporization cutting, laser melting cutting, laser oxygen cutting, and laser scribing and controlled fracture.

1. Laser vaporization cutting

Using a laser beam with high energy density to heat the workpiece, the temperature rises rapidly, reaching the boiling point of the material in a very short time, and the material begins to vaporize and form steam. The speed of these vapors is very high, and at the same time the vapor is emitted, a notch is formed in the material. The heat of vaporization of the material is generally large, so the laser vaporization cutting requires a large power and power density.

Laser vaporization cutting is mostly used for cutting extremely thin metal materials and non-metallic materials (such as paper, cloth, wood, plastic and rubber, etc.)

2. Laser fusion cutting

When laser melting cutting, the metal material is melted by laser heating, and then non-oxidizing gas (Ar, He, N, etc.) is sprayed through the nozzle coaxial with the beam, and the liquid metal is discharged by the strong pressure of the gas to form the incision. Laser melting cutting does not require the metal to be completely vaporized, and the energy required is only 1/10 of that of vaporized cutting.

Laser melting cutting is mainly used for the cutting of some non-oxidizing materials or active metals, such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum and its alloys.

3. Laser oxygen cutting

The principle of laser oxygen cutting is similar to oxy-acetylene cutting. It uses a laser as a preheating heat source and an active gas such as oxygen as a cutting gas. On the one hand, the gas blown out interacts with the cutting metal to undergo an oxidation reaction and release a large amount of oxidation heat; On the other hand, the molten oxide and melt are blown out of the reaction zone, forming a notch in the metal. The oxidation reaction in the cutting process produces a lot of heat, so the energy required for laser oxygen cutting is only 1/2 of the melting cutting, and the cutting speed is much greater than the laser vaporization cutting and melting cutting.

Laser oxygen cutting is mainly used for carbon steel, titanium steel and heat-treated steel, and other easily oxidized metal materials.

4. Laser scribing and controlled fracture

Laser scribing is the use of high energy density laser scanning on the surface of the brittle material so that the material is heated to evaporate out of a small slot, and then applying a certain pressure, the brittle material will be split along the small slot. The lasers used for laser scribing are generally Q-switched lasers and CO2 lasers.

Controlled fracture is the use of the steep temperature distribution generated by laser grooving to create local thermal stress in the brittle material, causing the material to break along the small grooves.

When using laser cutting, you should understand the characteristics of each material and pay more attention to it during actual use.

Materials that can be cut by laser cutting:

1. Different metals

Laser cutting machines can cut all types of metals from mild steel and stainless steel to non-ferrous metals. Reflective metals such as aluminum are more difficult to cut, at this time, fiber lasers are a better choice. Today, the cutting thickness of the metal can even reach 100 mm, and the cutting thickness varies according to the power of the laser.

2. Wood

All types of wood (including plywood and MDF) can be cut with lasers, but certain oily wood poses a risk of igniting and should be used with special care.

3. Paper and cardboard

Paper is also suitable for laser cutting, we see some complex and exquisite wedding invitations, that are likely to be made by laser cutting.

4. Plastic products

Acrylic, PMMA, and Lucite are all transparent plastics. When laser cutting is used, the edge can be guaranteed to have a good finish, and it looks like a cream cut with a knife.

5. Polyformaldehyde

Polyformaldehyde is a highly used plastic in the engineering field and can be used in gears, guiding and sliding components, medical devices, food packaging, etc. The ability to use lasers for complex cutting has contributed to the wider use of polyformaldehyde in many fields.

6. Glass

Because of its fragile and reflective properties, laser cutting glass may seem like an impossible task. However, laser cutters can cut glass.

It may seem like a laser can cut almost anything, but it's not, and most of the materials on the "can't cut" list are various plastics.

Materials that can  not be cut by laser cutting:

1. Polyvinyl chloride

Cutting PVC will emit acid and toxic fumes, which are harmful to the operator of the machine and the laser cutting machine itself, so PVC cutting is still left to mechanical methods to complete it.

2. Polycarbonate fiber

Polycarbonate smaller than 1 mm can be tried with a laser cutter but will cause discoloration of the material.

If the material is thick, there is no way to use laser cutting, not only inefficient, but the material is seriously faded, but also may cause combustion.

3. ABS, high-density polyethylene

Usually, the temperature of the laser beam is enough to vaporize the material, but it does not support materials such as ABS and high-density polyethylene. They tend to melt rather than vaporize, leaving messy tables and poor-quality cuts.

4. Polystyrene and polypropylene foam

Both catch fire easily.

5. Fiberglass

Fiberglass is a mixture of two materials - glass and epoxy resin. Cutting glass alone is notoriously difficult, and adding a smoke-causing resin to the mix would be a nightmare.

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