Laser cutting is an excellent and convenient method for industrial cutting. However, it becomes more precise and accurate when it meets CNC. Such laser-cutting machines reduce the need for human intervention and help us build the unthinkable. 

The major advantage of laser cutting machines with CNC is the ability to carve out intricate designs from a wide range of materials. The process is also super fast and ensures more purity than other methods. CNC laser cutting also creates the possibility of exclusively automated factories. 

Are you undecided on whether or not to incorporate CNC laser cutting in your business? Well, it’s probably because you don’t have enough knowledge on the matter. The following discussion can help you with that. 

What’s Unique About Laser Cutters?

As CNC manufacturing is subtractive, laser cutters are its best option. The principle of CNC manufacturing is removing material from a workpiece to carve out a final product. In this case, laser cutters provide the ultimate precision and make it possible to create intricate parts that are manually impossible. Let’s see how this process works. 

A computer system controls the operation of the laser beam in CNC laser cutting. A gas or solid-state laser generates the beam. It makes its way through a path of mirrors or fiber optics. Finally, the beam is precisely focused on the target material. The computer numerical control helps the cutter to achieve this superior precision. 

Laser beams vaporize, melt, or burn parts of the workpiece. Thus creating cuts or engraving. The beam itself doesn’t have a temperature. But when it comes in contact with the material, it transfers its energy and increases the surface temperature. Depending on the material, this temperature can range from 500F to 6000F. 

We can cut a wide variety of materials with CNC laser cutters. These include various kinds of metals, wood, and glass. You can also cut plastic, but it’s not recommended due to the production of toxic gases. Some CNC Laser cutters use oxygen or nitrogen as assist gases to blow away the fumes. 

What Are the Advantages of Laser Cutting Machines In CNC Manufacturing? 

Precision, speed, and variable applications are major advantages of laser cutting. It saves business owners time, money, and manpower. As a result, CNC laser cutters are in high demand across a range of industries. 

Optimum Preciseness

The accuracy of a CNC laser cutter can be measured at a tenth of a millimetre. This gives you an idea of how accurate the finished parts are. You don’t have to perform any adjustments to make the parts fit with the target machine. As a result, you can save time and costs of additional processing. 

In industries like Aerospace, Medical, or automotive, the dimensional requirements of products are often very strict. CNC laser cutters make it possible to fulfil these requirements properly within a short time. 

Avoid Contamination 

Manual cutting processes require physical contact with a workpiece. This contaminates the material and results in lower-quality products. Moreover, increased contact often means greater wear and tear and, thus, material wastage. 

CNC laser cutting is free from such physical contact. As a result, there is no chance of contamination. This makes possible the manufacturing of high-quality products. Plus, the manufacturer doesn’t lose money due to material wastage. 

Pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are two important industries requiring a high degree of purity in manufacturing. So, CNC laser cutting can revolutionize these sectors. 

High Production Volume 

CNC laser machines are a blessing when dealing with high-volume cutting. Sheet metal fabrication is a good example in this case. 

Compared to other available methods, CNC laser cutters are faster. However, that doesn’t mean any compromise with the precision of the cutting. We would always choose Laser cutting over plasma and flame cutting when dealing with high volumes in a short time. 

Complex and Creative Designs

An appealing feature of CNC laser cutting is its ability to carve out the most complex designs. Before CNC cutting, humans couldn’t create such complex parts with accuracy. But with CNC laser cutting, it is as easy as uploading the design to the computer system. 

This has opened up a world of new possibilities for designers and engineers. Both the tech and art sectors are seeing intricate constructions that were previously unimaginable. 

Automate Manufacturing

CNC laser cutters can easily integrate with other CNC machines. These include CNC conveyors, feeding systems, drilling, etc. As a result, it is now possible to automate entire cutting and manufacturing processes. 

Automation will significantly reduce the need for manual labor. In other words, your workers will be less stressed, and you can invest the extra manpower in more deserving sectors.

Advantages of Different Types of CNC Laser Cutting Machines

CNC laser cutting machines are available in multiple types. The variations occur due to the different laser sources and type of cutting process. Also, each type of CNS laser cutter has a specific material they are suited for. We are discussing some of the major types of laser cutters here- 

Carbon-Di-Oxide-based laser cutters: These machines use a CO2 gas laser as the main beam source. They are great for working on non-metallic materials. Usually, these machines are low-cost and have a decent beam quality. However, they require consistent maintenance and consume too much power. 

Fiber Laser Cutters: These are solid-state CNC laser cutters. An optical fibre amplifies the source laser and creates a powerful beam. Their main use is in cutting ceramics and metallic materials. Fiber laser cutters don’t require much maintenance and energy. However, they are high cost. 

YAG laser Cutters: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet crystals are the main source in these solid-state lasers. They don’t have the preciseness of the Carbon dioxide cutters. Therefore, these cutters are mainly used for thick cutting. Their beam quality is better than fibre cutters but requires high energy and maintenance. 

Laser Scribers: These machines are not used for cutting but to form lines or grooves on a workpiece. The aim is to use the target material for later processing. For instance, breaking the material along the laser-marked line. These machines have a low-quality beam since they don’t need to cut out intricate pieces. 

Conclusión  

The advantages of laser cutting make it a more preferable option for industries than other methods. However, each industry has different requirements, so choosing the correct laser cutter is important. Our experts at IVYCNC can help you to pick the correct product. You can also learn much from our blog.