Laser, a technical word, is one of the most common words which we have been using and hearing for a long time.

But,

Did you know that laser is an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”? It is a byword for efficiency and quality in materials processing since its emergence in the sixties.

It offers an entirely new way of using energy which helps manufacturing, medicine, and communications. You can heat, melt and even vaporize materials using lasers. It is an ideal medium for channelizing intense but controllable energy.

But they are most popular for cutting.

So, let’s brush up the basics of laser cutting and its uses?

Laser cutting is the thermal process that focuses laser beams on a particular area to melt material. It uses a coaxial gas jet to eject molten material and create a kerf.

As the laser beam or workpiece moves continuously under CNC control, it produces a cut.

There are three varieties of laser cutting:

1. Fusion Cutting
2. Flame Cutting
3. Remote Cutting

Let’s look at each in brief.

Fusion cutting: This cutting uses molten material to expel the kerf. Nitrogen gas does not react with molten material and as a result, it does not contribute to the energy input. It is advisable to use lasers with Trumpf spare parts and Fanuc spare parts for the best quality work.

Flame cutting: This laser cutting uses oxygen along with other gases and exerts the mechanical force on the molten material. This, in turn, creates an exothermic reaction which increases the energy input process.

Remote cutting: In this laser cutting, the material partially evaporates because of the high-intensity laser beam. As a result, this cuts the thin sheets without using any gas.

You can use automation in the laser cutting process using offline CAD/CAM systems. It helps in controlling three-axis flatbed systems or six-axis robots for three-dimensional laser cutting.

With the improvements in accuracy, edge squareness, and heat input control, the laser cutting technique is replacing other profiling cutting techniques like plasma and oxy-fuel.

Let’s look at the most vital thing in a laser cutting machine which we tend to forget easily.

Yes, you guessed it right, we are talking about the lens in laser cutting machines. We often forget that lenses can affect the thickness of the cut which is important for the cut.

So, let’s understand how it works.

In laser cutting, you focus laser beams using a lens (sometimes a concave mirror) on a small spot where you need to produce a laser cut.

One can define a lens by its focal length. And what is focal length? It’s the distance from the lens to the focused point.

There are two basic things which affect the efficiency of laser cutting:

1. Focused point diameter(d)
2. Depth of focus (L) - Focal Length

The effective distance which gives you satisfactory cuts is known as the depth of the focus. You can also define it as the distance at which the area of the spot doesn’t increase beyond 50%.

These two things, depth of focus and focal spot diameter, depend on the raw laser beam diameter on the lens and the focal length of the lens. And on the spare parts you use. For best results, use Trumpf spare parts and Fanuc spare parts.

Understand, constant raw laser beam diameter decreases the focal length of the focusing lens which results in smaller focal spot diameter and focus depth.

If there is a constant focus length lens then it increases raw beam diameter which reduces the spot diameter and depth of focus.

To compare lasers with different beam diameters we use focus f-number, which is focal length, F, and then divide it by incoming raw beam diameter, D.

There are two major requirements you need to consider for laser cutting:

1. High power density which focuses on small spot size.
2. Long depth of focus to process thick materials providing a reasonable amount of tolerance to focus on position variation.

But, the problem occurs when we realize that these two requirements are in conflict and you need to make some or the other compromises.

Hence, you need to consider the fact if the focal length is short, then the lens would be closer to the workpiece which can cause damages to the lens during the cutting process.

Wrapping it up:

It is necessary to understand the basics of any machinery part before you buy it. Because as an owner of that product you need to understand why you are investing in that thing and how even a small machinery part can impact highly on your business. Also, make sure to replace any worn out parts with only high-quality parts like Trumpf spare parts and Fanuc spare parts.

What do you do when you need a promotional logo for an event in under two weeks. You must be paying high rush rates and hefty shipping charges to a promo company. But how about firing up your own laser and make 100 pieces quickly? Isn’t the second option more convenient? Now, you must be thinking about costing.

Back in the day, most small to medium-sized businesses outsourced laser engraving. With the largely spread development in technology in the market, it removed the economic barrier for the in-house capabilities of laser engraving and cutting.

Laser cutting and engraving is making a buzz in the market for many reasons. With the increasing volume of outsourcing, there comes a point when the monthly spend on custom laser services is not cost-effective.

Sometimes it can stretch your production schedule and can lead to delays. If you are a manufacturer then installing laser equipment having Amada replacement parts or Trumpf spare parts in your own factory can be a cost-friendly option. You won’t be having any delivery time pressure. Plus, whenever you have to satisfy unpredictable customer demands, you can minimize the cost by taking control of laser cutting and having those resources on-premise.

When there is a development in the technology, there are many features available in large-scale cutting and engraving machines you can find on smaller desktop models. Today’s laser cutters provide speed, productivity, and efficiency for improved output and reduced scrap rates. Due to constant improvement in design and manufacturing process, there are systems which became more durable and requires less maintenance than the older models.

Major Benefits of having an in-house laser cutter:

• The laser marking process produces a crisp, detailed design which allows you to engrave images up to 1000-1200 dots per inch.
• It also provides an extremely fast way to customize products. You can easily engrave multiple pieces at once.
• This makes it easier for a laser system allowing users to create a quick jig to hold items in place and engrave as many pieces as per the area capacity in the laser’s work area.

While there might be some manufacturers concerned about the availability of in-house expertise to develop a particular laser job configurations and engineering. Bringing an in-house laser system allows manufacturers to brand their own promotional products. They can craft their own clothing, laptops, mobile phones, and so on. They can also design their own internal/external signage and other products as employee recognition products. Engraving custom graphics on MP3 players, iPods, iPads, and cell phones is an incredibly popular application which helps deter theft.

Hence, the next time when you are facing such deadlines to customize your products, having your in-house laser cutting systems having Amada replacement parts or Trumpf spare parts could help you deliver results on time.

Some of the useful tips to help you before you place your first order:

Material: Make sure that the materials you use involve steel tubes. Also, if your materials contain high reflective metals, aluminum, red copper, etc. then choose a laser cutter which is suitable for processing of such metals.

Size: It is key to the fiber laser cutting selection. Be careful while taking a measurement on them and decide the size of the work table.

Thickness: To achieve cutting effect with efficiency, it is important to consider the thickness of materials with the wattage of fiber laser cutting machine. Plus, it will help you choose the most effective solution.

The Finance Factor

While some manufacturers pay cash for a laser, the majority of them would use the finance method. Other than the bank sources you have OEM with their own financing plans. Also, make sure you are not compromising on quality while investing in the laser cutter to save money. Higher quality parts like Amada replacement parts will not only increase the lifecycle of the cutter but will also need lesser maintenance. 

But in order to get full services, you need to get a successful delivery and installation. Decide what type of foundation you will require. After that, it is important for a laser cutting machine to be in the right place with a facility away from harsh environmental areas. Also, make sure that you choose an efficient flow of laser-cut banks to downstream manufacturing process.