As business owners know, a manufacturing company is only as good as the products they produce. Therefore, when it comes to fabricating metal products and parts of all varieties, there is no better asset than a metal cutting laser machine.
Unlike traditional metal-on-metal cutting methods, a laser cutting machine eliminates errors due to human involvement or machinery inaccuracies. Additionally, laser cut metal products and parts can be as intricate as required, with no deviation in perfection from one product to the next.
Most businesses do not have the budget or the expansive resources to launch metal cutting laser operations in house. However, an outsource provider like Steelway Laser Cutting can pave the way for better, enhanced products through laser cutting metal services.
From laser cut signs to the tiny precision-required pieces of electronics and medical devices, read on to uncover how a laser cutting machine for metal manufacturing projects can be a game changer.
Understanding Laser Metal Cutting Technology
The laser cutting process relies heavily on advanced technology, starting with the design of the metal product itself.
Using computer aided design (CAD) software, the specifications for each laser cutting production run are then fed to a computer numerical controlled (CNC) laser cutting machine, which then follows the cutting, bending, engraving, or other instructions to the letter.
The heat of the laser beam effectively vaporizes the raw sheet metal material (often with the help of an assist gas). Then, it follows these detailed instructions, replicating each cut and each part until the production run is finished.
With no burred edges, miscalculations, or imperfections, the process results in perfectly executed parts or products that match the manufacturing company’s guidelines exactly.
What Type of Laser is Used to Cut Metal?
As laser cutting technology evolves, so do the types of laser cutting machines that can tackle varying metals and projects of all varieties and in all levels of detail. An example of some of the more common laser cutting machines utilized in manufacturing operations includes the following.
- Fiber lasers – Fiber lasers are well known for their precision, efficiency, and high rates of speed. They are ideal for fabricating most varieties of metals because of their wavelength, which is easily absorbed by different metals.
- CO2 lasers – CO2 lasers were some of the first commercially used laser cutting machines, but the technology that powers these laser cutters has grown by leaps and bounds. C02 lasers use a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other elements like helium to produce the laser beam, and they can be used for cutting many different types of materials besides metals, like wood, plastic, and even fabric.
- Other laser cutting machines – There are also additional laser cutting machines used in metal fabrication, although they are generally not as common as fiber lasers or C02 lasers. Nd:YAG/Nd:YVO Lasers, Direct Diode Lasers, and Crystal lasers all use different laser cutting technologies to drive the fabrication process, but they all result in precision-perfect results.
Components of Laser Metal Cutting Systems
Most laser cutting systems have a network of components that work together to achieve the desired results.
These components include the following:
- Laser source – The laser source generates a high-intensity laser beam, and this source can vary depending on the type of laser metal cutting machine used in the cutting process.
- Motion control system – This system dictates the movements of the cutting head along the specified cutting or engraving path.
- Focusing system – The focusing system or lens concentrates the beam in a small, intense spot on the raw material sheet metal during the cutting process.
- Cutting head – The cutting head directs the focused laser beam onto the material, and it is usually outfitted with a nozzle to apply the assist gas that removes any vaporized debris.
- Overall control system – The control system (usually a computer numerical control or CNC system) manages the entire laser cutting process from start to finish, including the intensity of the laser beam (or laser power), the cutting speed, and the movement of the cutting head and beam.
The Key Benefits of Laser Cutting and the Impact on Product Quality by Advanced Laser Metal Cutting
Utilizing advanced laser cutting technology to create detailed parts and products has numerous benefits. . Here are just a handful of the advantages for manufacturing companies.
- Cost efficiency – Even if shipping costs are involved, the laser cutting process is renowned for its cost-saving benefits due to less waste, more efficient use of the raw material, less debris, and better electrical and operational efficiency.
- Precision – With laser cutting, manufacturers do not have to worry about product quality control because every part or product is perfectly cut and fabricated to the exact specifications, with no errors along the way.
- Increased speed and productivity – Once the laser cutting process begins, it can run uninterrupted 24/7 until the production run is complete. In addition, laser cutting machines are well known for their ability to cut and fabricate sheet metal at high rates of speed, dwarfing older and more traditional cutting methods.
- Better flexibility when it comes to materials, and design – The top laser cutting machines can cut metals of all varieties and at all levels of thinness or thickness with ease and impressive accuracy. In addition, because the laser beam is so precise, the most intricate designs can be crafted, giving manufacturing companies the freedom to expand and revolutionize their parts and products.
Discover the Benefits of Laser Cutting Technology with Steelway Laser Cutting
Steelway Laser Cutting is renowned for our decades of experience working with manufacturers across all industries. We also have the best laser cutting machines, technology, and experienced technicians on hand to tackle any project.
Learn more about how having an expert resource behind the scenes can enhance your company’s products and productivity. You don’t have to invest thousands and thousands of dollars to have access to the best laser cutting technology. Instead, you can form a partnership that will provide a world of benefits to your operations for years to come.
Connect with us today to start the conversation. Together, you can improve your products – and your bottom line – with a laser cutting expert in Pennsylvania that will revolutionize your manufacturing operations.
Discover the difference precision with laser cutting can make.
Request a quote today and elevate the quality of your products.