The industrialized world has moved into hyper-optimization of the manufacturing process. You need to keep up-to-date with the latest manufacturing and cutting options to streamline your process and stay competitive.

Therefore, this guide to laser cutting is going to demystify the idea of efficiently cutting materials with lasers. We will give you a fundamental understanding of what they are, how they work, and what they’re good for.

If you have a manufacturing business or need to cut materials commercially, a laser cutter is the best way to do it. Here’s why.

What is Laser Cutting and How Does it Work?

Laser cutting is one of the most efficient ways of working with all kinds of different materials. They allow you to carve, cut, engrave, and mark various materials, which makes production applications a lot easier.

Additionally, it’s one of the best ways to simplify your production process. It does this with a computer system that guides the cutter. The cutter itself uses a high-powered laser, which is pointed to the cutting material.

The heat from the laser melts or evaporates the material, which allows the operator (in this case you) to cut and carve out all kinds of cuts and shapes. Laser machines work so well because they’re very versatile too.

They can work with a wide range of materials – more on this a bit later. But how do they actually work?

How Do Laser Cutters Work – A Beginner’s Overview

You can’t have a guide to laser cutting without discussing how they actually work. Fortunately, it isn’t much work to get a solid grasp of at least the fundamentals. You can also work with a reputed supplier like IVYCNC to know more about them and find the right laser-cutting supplier.

Laser cutters simply use the heat of a pointed laser to cut various materials. Additionally, different kinds of laser cutters cut and engrave in different ways, as well. The most important thing to understand when it comes to laser cutting is wavelength. CO₂ lasers, for example, use infrared wavelengths.

It’s absorbed by the cutting material, which allows it to be cut with precision. Moreover, these lasers are perfect for cutting materials like wood, plastic, and even fabrics. Other laser cutters use a neodymium-doped crystal or high-powered laser with the help of a fiber-optic cable to cut stronger materials like metal.

The 3 Different Types of Lasers

All right, now that you know how laser cutters work, let’s discuss the types of cutters out there. There are three main types of laser cutters:

• CO₂ laser cutters
• Fiber-optic laser cutters
• Crystal laser cutters

CO₂ Laser Cutters

First up, you have CO₂ laser cutters. CO₂ stands for Carbon Dioxide. This is the most common type of cutter you’ll see due to its versatility. These powerful lasers can cut through hard materials like metals. Additionally, they can make quick work with more delicate materials like paper.

Fiber-Optic Laser Cutters

When working with extremely delicate materials like foam, nothing beats the ease and precision of fiber-optic lasers, which is why you’ll see these mostly used in automated cutting machines. These lasers are controlled by computer numerical control (CNC) to cut extremely complex and intricate patterns and designs.

Crystal Laser Cutters

Light beams are the crux of a crystal laser cutter. These lasers are perfect for industrial applications like welding and alloying. They use light beams from neodymium-doped yttrium ortho-vanadate and neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet. Often shortened to nd: YVO and nd: YAG.

What Can You Do With Laser Cutters?

One of the things that make laser cutters such a viable option for cutting materials is their versatility. They can work with all sorts of materials. Additionally, they can do all types of cuts. That’s where you can truly experience how a laser cutter can enhance your process by multiple folds. Laser cutters can:

Cut

Cutting involves removing excess material from a workpiece using lasers. The intense heat melts or evaporates the material. It allows you to create precise cuts and shapes as needed. Plus, production applications also use compressed air to blow away the cut piece from the cutting material.

Engrave

A lot of people confuse marking and engraving. However, they’re very different. You can use laser cutters to engrave intricate details into various cutting materials. It’s the process of removing materials only from the surface. You might want to engrave for both functional or aesthetic purposes.

Mark

Marking, on the other hand, does not involve removing any materials. It’s only used to change the surface of a cutting piece. Usually done to add information like brand names, barcodes, etc. You can also mark a piece for decorative purposes as well.

Important (and Common) Applications of Laser Cutters

Laser cutters have a wide range of applications. This makes them the ideal choice for businesses operating in various industries. Moreover, since they can be adapted to suit specific niches, they’re also suitable for use in specialized industries for cutting and engraving.

Jewelry Industry

Jewelry design can get extremely intricate. This is the point when you will need a specialized tool to cut those intricate designs with utmost precision. 

Therefore, a laser cutter is perfect for that. You can offer more designs with beautiful details. And you can do it faster and better with a laser cutter, too.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry sees one of the highest applications for laser cutters. The need for a precise and high-quality cutting method has become a must due to tight manufacturing tolerances in the industry.

Medical Device Industry

The medical industry produces all kinds of devices that help millions of lives. Devices like pacemakers and catheters are used all over the world. 

Fortunately for patients, making devices with the desired quality control is possible due to the advanced cutting methods in laser cutters.

Metalworking Industry

The metalworking industry is another huge customer of laser cutters. High-powered laser cutters make working with tough materials like metals seamless. It can be used to shape and cut various metals into desired shapes to produce all kinds of products, from beams, columns, piping, and more.

Laser cutters are versatile thanks to their power, precision, and the very low risk of human error. Apart from these industries, these cutters are also used in woodworking, crafts industries like ceramic manufacturing, and even the silicon industry for silicon wafers and electronics. They are truly ubiquitous in the modern industrialized world.

Pros and Cons of Laser Cutting

Laser cutters are an investment in every sense of the world. They’re expensive. However, they can also give you returns in multiples. Before buying one, though, you need to understand the pros and cons of one.

Pros of Laser Cutting

• Enhanced precision
• Reduced human error
• Versatility
• Less material waste
• Faster and efficient cutting process
• Minimal debris

Cons of Laser Cutting

• Need for training and skilled labor
• Potential health hazard
• High cost of entry

Wrapping Up

This guide to laser cutting is designed to give you an overview if you’re new to the world of high-quality and precision laser cutting. If you’re in the market for a laser cutter, you can contact us for help in finding the perfect supplier for your business.

We have years of experience in matching business with suppliers from all over the world. Our expertise ensures you can make the most out of your investment no matter where you are in the world you’re from.