The word ‘laser’ means “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”. Laser cutting is a method of cutting through material that uses a powerful constant beam of light that is directed through optics. Not only to cut in the strict sense of the word, but it can also create designs. The method is that the light vaporizes, burns, or melts through the material, cutting it to the desired shape or design.

Laser cutting in its original form started as far back as 1965 and was used to cut diamond dies, but is now used in many industries as the operation has achieved versatile applications. These applications now range from use in the field of medicine, electronics, aerospace, in a variety of hobbies, and even in healthcare and surgery, to name a few. It is the one method of cutting that can cut through the largest range of materials, more than any other.

How Does Laser Cutting Work?

The power of the laser will be adjusted according to the thickness and type of material being cut. Depending on how deep the laser penetrates, it is then able to cut, engrave or mark a particular material.

The light amplification is intense and can cut through materials without the machine itself making any contact with the material and as such, performs the cutting with very little interaction time with the material.

How Laser cutting works begins with a high-intensity light that is situated on a reflective chamber within the laser cutter, which in turn stimulates a laser rod, thus creating the radiation needed for the cutting. In this way, the atoms of the light rod absorb the light wavelengths, which charge the atoms with photons. These energized photons then create more of the same photons called simulated emissions. These photons then are directed to a singular point and move perpendicular to a parallel mirror that is situated at the end of the light rod.

One of the lights situated in the chamber is transmissive and allows for the light to escape, thus creating the beam of intense, monochromatic light necessary for cutting. From there, fibre optics channel the light through a lens, directing the light onto the specific material.
Assisting gases can also be used in the process, which are inserted into the nozzle to further supplement the process. These gases include nitrogen, compressed air, or argon. The gas not only helps remove the molten material but also provides for better transmission of heat onto the material.

Oxygen is typically used for softer surfaces, where the laser then ignites the material with the assistance of oxygen to cause the cutting. With harder materials, such as stainless steel or aluminum, the laser simply melts the material, and as such, nitrogen is used.

What are the Advantages of Laser Cutting?

There are several advantages to making use of lasers as a method of cutting. One prominent advantage is that with there being no contact with the surface of the material, the condition of the mechanisms used to cut the material stay intact and are not subject to the normal wear and tear of other cutting machines.

The process also allows for the most precise and intricate cutting, which is not possible with other methods of cutting. The precision is also such, with the combination of the intense heat and gas, that no secondary process is needed to neaten up the material or deburr any jagged or raised edges, or metal spurs, etc. The result of this is also that it can cut very fine geometrics, shapes, and designs.

Laser cutting also allows for high aspect ratios where deep drilling can be done to create a very narrow groove or hole. This advantage is made so by there being no friction on the mechanism, being the light, which is doing the drilling, creating a neat, deep groove into the material.

Another advantage of laser cutting is the range of materials that can be cut by a laser. They are suitable for cutting very difficult materials such as titanium but can also be used for brittle and fragile materials such as ceramics.

The drilling speeds are also very high, and are only impacted by the configuration of the light and the movement of the laser and not by the positioning, as would be the case with conventional cutting machines or drills.

Whatever your cutting or design needs, contact Centurion Profile Cutting today for a quotation!