Laser cutting is a kind of non-contact cutting, which combines focused heat and thermal energy based on the thermal manufacturing process, and applies pressure to melt and spray the material at the narrow path or notch. Compared with traditional cutting methods, laser cutting has many advantages. The highly focused energy provided by laser and CNC control can accurately cut materials and complex shapes from different thicknesses.
 

Laser cutting can achieve high-precision and small-tolerance manufacturing, reduce material waste and process material diversity. Precision laser cutting technology can be widely used in various manufacturing applications. It has become a treasure asset of the automotive industry. It uses a variety of materials to produce complex parts with different thickness, from hydraulic molding 3D shapes to airbags, and precision electronics industry is used to finish machining metal or plastic parts, shells, and circuit boards. From processing workshops, small workshops to large industrial facilities, they provide manufacturers with many advantages. Here are five reasons why precision laser cutting is used:

01 Superior accuracy

The accuracy and edge quality of materials cut by laser are better than those cut by traditional methods. Laser cutting uses highly focused beam, which is used as a heat-affected zone in the cutting process, and will not cause large thermal damage to adjacent surfaces. In addition, the cutting process of high-pressure gas (usually CO2) is used to spray molten materials to remove the material slits of narrow workpieces, making the processing cleaner and making the edges of complex shapes and designs smoother. The laser cutting machine has the function of computer numerical control (CNC). The laser cutting process can be automatically controlled by a pre-designed machine program. The CNC controlled laser cutting machine reduces the risk of operator error and produces more accurate, more accurate and more strict tolerance parts.

02 Improve workplace safety

Accidents involving employees and equipment in the workplace will have an impact on the company's productivity and operating costs. Material processing and processing operations, including cutting, are areas where accidents occur frequently. Using lasers to cut for these applications can reduce the risk of accidents. Because it is non-contact cutting, it means that the machine tool does not physically contact the material. In addition, the beam generation does not require any operator intervention during the laser cutting process, so that the high power beam can be safely kept inside the sealed machine. Generally, except for inspection and maintenance operations, laser cutting does not require manual intervention. Compared with traditional cutting methods, this process minimizes direct contact with the workpiece surface, thus reducing the possibility of accidents and injuries to employees.

03 Greater material versatility

In addition to cutting complex geometric shapes with higher accuracy, laser cutting can also enable manufacturers to cut without mechanical modification, and can use more materials and a wider range of thickness. With the same laser beam and different output levels, intensities and durations, laser cutting can cut a variety of metals. Similar adjustments can be made to the machine to accurately cut materials of various thicknesses. Integrated CNC components can realize automation, thus providing more intuitive operations.

04 Faster delivery time

The time spent in setting up and operating the manufacturing equipment will increase the overall production cost of each workpiece. The laser cutting method can reduce the total delivery time and the total cost required for production. For laser cutting, there is no need for mold replacement and setting between materials or material thickness. Compared with traditional cutting methods, the setting time of laser cutting will be greatly reduced. It involves more machine programming than loading materials. In addition, using laser to complete the same cutting can be 30 times faster than traditional sawing.

05 Lower material cost

By using the laser cutting method, the manufacturer can minimize the waste of materials. The beam used in the focused laser cutting process will produce narrow cuts, thus reducing the size of the heat-affected zone and reducing the number of thermally damaged and unusable materials. When flexible materials are used, the deformation caused by mechanical machine tools also increases the number of unusable materials. The non-contact nature of laser cutting eliminates this problem. The laser cutting process can cut with higher accuracy and more strict tolerance, and reduce the material damage in the heat-affected zone. It is allowed to place the part design more closely on the material. The tighter design reduces the material waste and reduces the material cost as time goes by.

Conclusion

The semiconductor industry uses laser cutting in the electronic industry, adding the cuttable silicon, gemstones and complex parts used to produce composite materials. Laser cutting has a wide range of applications in the medical industry, including medical production equipment and equipment, cutting precision tubes and surgical applications requiring sterile and precise cutting. The small heat affected zone produced reduces the amount of material waste, thus reducing the overall cost, and the non-contact nature reduces the risk of workplace injuries and accidents. The programming and conversion time of the laser cutting process is faster, which can achieve greater production versatility and minimize the delivery time.

About HGTECH: HGTECH is the pioneer and leader of laser industrial application in China, and the authoritative provider of global laser processing solutions. We have comprehensively arranged laser intelligent machine, measurement and automation production lines, and smart factory construction to provide overall solutions for intelligent manufacturing.