Laser Cutting

CO2 Lasers
A CO2 laser runs electricity through a gas mixture-filled tube, producing light beams. The tubes contain mirrors on each end. One of the mirrors is fully reflective and the other is partial, letting some of the light through. The gas mixture is usually carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen and helium. CO2 lasers produce invisible light, in the far infrared range of the light spectrum.
Fiber Lasers
This class of machines is part of the solid-state laser group and uses the seed laser. They amplify the beam using specially designed glass fibers that derive energy from pump diodes. Their general wavelength is 1.064 micrometers, producing an extremely small focal diameter. They are also typically the most expensive of the various laser-cutting devices.
Nd:YAG/Nd:YVO Lasers
Crystal laser cutting processes can be in nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet), but more commonly they tend to use nd:YVO (neodymium-doped yttrium ortho-vanadate, YVO4) crystals. These devices allow an extremely high cutting power. The drawback of these machines is that they can be expensive, not just because of their initial price but also because they have a life expectancy 8,000 to 15,000 hours (with Nd:YVO4 being having a typically lower one) and the pump diodes can net a very hefty price.

How Do Laser Cutting Work

A laser cutting machine works similarly to a CNC machine, but it uses a high-power laser. The laser will guide the material or beam through the CNC and optical equipment. The machine will use the CNC, or G-code provided, to cut the material and control the motion.

After the laser beam is focused, the material will melt, vaporize and burn. In addition, when you blow the material with a gas jet, you can obtain a high-quality finished edge surface. The laser beam generation takes place in a closed container, where a lamp or electrical discharge stimulates the luminescent material.

The amplification of the luminescent material occurs after internal reflection through a partial mirror. This phenomenon continues until enough energy has accumulated in a coherent monochromatic light stream to allow it to escape. The intensity of the light increases after it has been focused on the working area using a fiber or mirror.

The laser beam diameter is below 0.32 mm at its thinnest edge. Conversely, the width of the incision can potentially be as small as 0.10 mm. However, this depends on the thickness of the material. If the material is cut with a laser cutter without starting from the edge of the material, then a perforation process is used.

What Materials Can Be Cut With a Laser Cutter

Metals & Alloys
Metals are some of the most popular laser-cutting materials. Traditionally, manufacturing techniques are slow, expensive, and require hours of hands-on training. Laser cutting is a more accessible technology that allows anyone with basic know-how to cut through the toughest metal parts.

Wood
Laser-cutting wood has seen a steady rise in recent years. The modern furniture industry has already shifted to laser-cut wood design for its catalog. A drawback of laser cutting wood is accidental burning. Wood is flammable, and laser cutting often leaves char marks on cut edges.
Wood veneers are a popular choice for many designers. They use laser cutting to create veneer stickers that go on top of other inexpensive materials.

Plastics
Plastics are generally very soft and thus very difficult to cut and shape with traditional processes. Sawing, drilling, and milling result in the plastic melting and deforming. Hence, laser cutting plastic has grown in popularity with the wide availability of low-wattage laser cutters.

Textiles
Laser cutting supports various materials, including several fabric options. Fabrics tend to fray at the edges and require additional post-processing to stop the material from unraveling. The threat of fraying limits intricate pattern designs.
Laser cutting cauterizes the edges as it cuts through the fabrics, making it a more effective solution for textile design. As fabrics burn easily, you will need to fine-tune your laser-cutter settings. Keep the laser power low and the cutting speed high to get the best results.

Rubber
Rubber materials share some key traits with plastic and textiles, such as softness and flexibility, that make traditional cutting more difficult. Laser cutting can precisely cut thick and thin rubber sheets in seconds.
High-performance rubber gaskets and seals benefit from the excellent CNC precision of laser cutters. Most of today’s rubber gaskets are made from synthetic materials.

Foam
Fiber lasers are excellent at processing any material that is soft and delicate. A laser beam can cut through the most delicate materials without melting, bringing, or deflating. Hence, laser cutting foam is a natural fit for most manufacturers.
Precision-cut foam is used for various packaging, shock-proofing, and soundproofing applications. Laser cutting foam is compatible with various thicknesses of polymers.