Laser Cutting: Advantages & Inconvenients - Dassault Systemes

Laser cutters are high-energy, focused laser beams that cut sheets of steel, wood, plastic, and other materials into two-dimensional parts in the manufacturing and hobbyist arenas. "Laser" is a commonly used term for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation," which explains the physical science necessary to generate laser light. It is a widely adopted technology suited for the mass production of precise two-dimensional parts.

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The laser-cutting process utilizes a computer-generated program called a G-code, a set of machine-readable instructions instructing the machine where to move the laser-cutting head. Once the program is loaded, the material may require additional preparation before loading material onto the cutting bed. Once the material is loaded, a small, high-energy light beam is initiated and focused on one spot to heat the material and initiate the cutting process. As the material heats, the laser is directed to cut multiple parts using a series of mirrors and lenses. The intense heat melts and often vaporizes material as it is directed across the bed while cutting parts from the material sheet. Parts are removed and may be further processed.

Laser cutters are used in a range of applications, including engraving, laser welding, tube cutting, and sheet metal and plate cutting. There are several different types of lasers and methods used for Laser Cutting. These include the following:

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Types of Laser Cutting:

• CO2 Lasers – This laser utilizes carbon dioxide (CO2), Helium (HE), and Nitrogen (N) to optimize the cutting process; Nitrogen help to amplify the energy while Helium helps to dissipate the remaining energy after the cut. These lasers are often used with metals plate but struggle with materials that have high reflectivity and thermal absorption.
• Fiber Lasers – Flexible fiber optic cables carry photons to produce the beam with the assistance of rare earth elements such as erbium, neodymium, thulium, or yttrium. Each element produces different wavelengths for varying applications. These lasers are best suited for cutting reflective materials like brass or gold and, due to the flexibility of the fiber cable, can be mounted to robotic arms. 
• Nd:YAG lasers – This powerful, high-density laser is often used for marking and etching. This laser utilizes a neodymium (Nd) doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystal (Y3Al5O12) which aids the photon acceleration to create a high-intensity beam. Nd:YVO lasers operate similarly with improved power stability, reduced heat, and greater laser intensity. 

Laser cutters are used to cut a wide range of materials. The most commonly cut materials are listed as follows:

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