The laser technique is a methodology that is used more and more often to proceed with the cutting of many materials: a laser cutting machine offers great advantages (versatility, speed and precision), which we will analyze carefully, and can be used to create various types of carvings and engravings on different materials. Advanced Signmakers has established itself as an excellent choice for laser cutting in Melbourne.
What is laser cutting
Laser technology works by emitting a beam of light concentrated in a straight beam. The stimulated emission process allows laser devices to fire by keeping the energy created by the beam concentrated into a very small spot.
The LASER light beam (acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) must have three main characteristics: it must maintain coherence, monochromaticity and high brilliance, derived from the great power that is concentrated in a very small area. Thanks to these properties, it is possible to carry out laser engraving and cutting.
This precision cutting technique is achieved by hitting the material with a focused laser beam which is concentrated in a beam of the size of half a millimeter: the material thus heated undergoes the passage of the laser and, therefore, the cut.
Laser cutting, the technical procedure
Laser cutting occurs through the process of thermal separation which occurs when the surface of the material is struck by the beam: the resulting heating causes the melting or vaporization of the material which results in cutting.
The laser beam penetrates the material, cuts it starting from a certain point and then the laser system follows the geometry that was previously selected. In this way the separation of the material takes place. It is important to remember that in some procedures a process gas may be used to further improve the cutting results. How laser cutting works
The laser cutting process begins with a file: the vector document, which can be easily produced by the Laser Idea graphic studio, will be used by the machine to implement the detailed instructions and transform them into a cut.
At this point the beam of electromagnetic radiation coming from the source is focused and, through a lens, it is passed over the surface to be cut.
The overheating of the same brings the material to the melting point while the gas flow produces the fluid dynamic thrust necessary to remove the melt generating the furrow. At this point the processing is started and, by moving the bundle, the desired cutting path is obtained. In this way it is possible to obtain a clean cut (in the case of plexiglass, a perfectly shiny surface) without producing shavings or sharp edges, and an infinite series of personalized graphics such as shapes and designs, shapes and letters.
Obviously, it is essential to know what power a laser must have to cut a certain material, since each process requires a suitable laser engraving machine.
Characteristics of laser cutting machines
The laser cutting machines on the market mostly exploit the technology with a high brilliance source, i.e. a methodology which, in the face of lower maintenance and integration costs on the systems, guarantees high energy efficiency.
Laser cutting machines allow for low and rapid realization times (just think of the difference with removal technology) and, with lower costs, they can model, join, harden, drill and engrave. The processes are more precise and have a high degree of automation, remaining in the absence of wear.
Laser Idea is able to offer a complete service using the best laser cutting machines on the market.
Laser cutting design
Laser technology arises from the design phases: the graphic creation and conception is entrusted to the designer who is called to plan the design of the cut taking into account various aspects such as high precision (otherwise the assembly phases of the structures will be complicated, for example), the possibility of carrying out several operations in one (part marking and drilling) and the flexibility in the realization of the geometry.
As we said above, the Laser Idea graphic studio offers the service of designing and producing the documents necessary for the manufacturing processes relating to laser cutting which will also take into account the absence of mechanical action on the element during the cutting phase. This technology ensures various advantages mainly due to its flexibility.
Types of cuts
Laser cutting is one of the preferred options when it comes to cutting various types of materials . We have already described some of the benefits of this method compared to mechanical cutting systems but we have not yet talked about the different types of cutting that differ according to the gas used or the source.
Types of cutting according to the gas used
Depending on the gas used, there are two types of cutting: with inert gas or with oxygen. How do they differ? Let’s go find out.
Laser cutting with inert gas is chosen when the need arises to remove the molten material from the groove using a gas which is inert with respect to the cut material. In this case the cut obtained has a good quality and a limited lateral streak and the gases that are used are usually helium, nitrogen and argon.
Oxygen-assisted laser cutting is a process in which the metal material and the process gas come into contact: the reaction generates metal oxide which releases more energy and therefore speeds up the laser cutting process.
The advantage of this typology is that the power generated is greater and therefore it is possible to work at higher speeds or on thicker surfaces, the disadvantage is that a thin layer of metal oxide is obtained and a greater irregularity in the cut. The technical staff of Laser Idea is able to evaluate together with the customer the best processes and the most suitable types of cuts based on the result to be obtained.
Types of lasers cutting according to the source
Now let’s talk about the source: when laser cutting is based on a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide (which is electrically excited) it offers high performance and cutting quality (even when cutting thick alloy steel plates).
CO2 laser cutting differs from fiber cutting because in the latter the beam is produced by a laser seed ( 1 μm wavelength ) and then amplified thanks to the glass fibers. Fiber laser cutting is even more efficient than the previous one, faster and requires less maintenance.
The third type concerns diode laser cutting and in practice combines the advantages of the previous two: lower energy consumption, greater cutting capacity and even better performance on reflective materials.
The 2D laser cutting process, which takes place on machines with 2+1 axes, is chosen above all in those sectors where it is necessary to carry out bending procedures, cutting, molding or drawing phases to obtain the necessary shapes.
Which materials can be cut with a laser
Laser Idea carries out laser cuts especially on plexiglass, wood and metal, but also carries out work on behalf of third parties on parquet, leather and leather.
There are many materials that can be cut with laser technologies and among these there are certainly steels. Steel with a low or high carbon content lends itself to this type of processing (in the case of a high carbon content it is essential to pay attention to the brittle or hard structures near the groove, in order not to compromise the flexibility of the sheet) as well as that austenitic stainless steel (which is mostly cut using high pressure nitrogen).
Laser cutting wood
Laser cutting on wood is mainly carried out to create personalized products: for this reason, the cut made by the machine is performed on very small thicknesses (from a minimum of 2 or 3 mm up to 4 cm, therefore a minimum surface of 2 or 3 mm) thanks to the precision of the engraving tool. Advanced Signmakers, the best SignMaker company in Melbourne
Plexiglas laser cutting
Given its excellent technical characteristics (efficient, stable and resistant to mechanics) , plexiglass is an excellent material for laser cutting. The cut edge does not undergo color alterations and does not require polishing, the result obtained does not require modifications and for this reason it is to be considered optimal.