Many simple tools can be used to cut copper, but more advanced machinery and skills are required when it comes to custom metal cutting for fabrication and manufacturing processes.
Laser cutting is one of the best techniques available for projects requiring high-volume copper manufacturing. CNC laser cutting is widely used for industrial-scale copper-cutting projects because it offers a variety of advantages that may not be possible with many other copper-cutting methods.
If you work with copper, you should know about CNC laser cutting advantages to determine if it’s right for your project-specific needs.
Achieve the Best Quality with Steelway Laser Cutting
Steelway Laser Cutting has been in the manufacturing business for over 50 years. Backed by cutting-edge technology and highly skilled experts, we offer the perfect solution for your copper fabrication needs. Let’s discover more about how we can serve you with everything from prototype development to a finished final product.
What is Copper?
Identified by its shiny, reddish color, copper is one of the oldest metals available. It was first manipulated by humans and has remained an essential industrial metal.
Globally, copper ranks as the third-most-consumed industrial metal, with roughly three-quarters of all consumption going into producing electrical wires, telecommunication cables, and electronics.
Beneficial Properties of Copper
The chemical properties of copper enhance its corrosion resistance, which means the corrosion process is very slow. Only surpassed by silver in its electrical properties, copper has the best electrical conductivity of any common metal, making it important to the electrical industry.
Copper is also a solid conductor of heat, outperforming stainless steel and aluminum. This material is a perfect choice for electric motors and is often used in applications that require fast heat transfer, such as radiators, furnaces, air conditioners, and more.
Due to its flexibility, this metal is easily formed and stretched into complex designs without breaking. It can be converted into wire or shaped in various ways without losing strength, making copper ideal for plumbing and piping.
Lastly, copper’s anti-microbial properties have made it a popular metal of choice in the medical field. Interestingly, copper kills microbes by interfering with the electrical charge of the organisms’ cell membranes.
Industries That Use Copper
Copper is used in many industries and products due to its incredible properties.
- Electrical
- Copper
- Plumbing
- Manufacturing
- Medical
- Transportation
- Automotive
- Aircraft
- Military/Defense
Benefits of Laser Cutting Copper
CNC laser cutting machines can cut many types of metal, but specific to copper, laser cutting offers many advantages over other methods.
Precision
In the metal-cutting world, lasers are synonymous with precision, and laser cutting is ideal for producing copper parts for high-precision applications. Lasers are high-powered, computer-controlled machines whose power level and spot size can be adjusted to cut copper precisely. You can cut copper in any shape with lasers, no matter how intricate the design may be.
The smooth finish of a piece of copper cut using a CNC laser cutting machine is unrivaled. You can create cuts with clean edges, leaving no jagged pieces or burrs. There is no need to finish the edge through polishing, as the vaporizing edge of the laser ensures that no debris is left behind.
Speed
One of the most significant advantages of laser cutting is that it is very fast. The setup time for CNC laser cutting is minimal, and the entire copper-cutting process is automated, making it possible to complete projects much faster than other metal-cutting techniques.
If you need to create a rapid prototype of a device or item that includes copper, or speed up high-volume production, then laser cutting is the ideal method.
Consistency
Using a CNC laser cutting machine is a great way of securing quality control for your copper products. A computer is used to program the machine to follow a consistent cutting pattern every time. This eliminates inconsistent quality due to human or operator error and ensures consistency in the specifications of parts throughout the production process.
This quality assurance makes laser cutting an appropriate choice for projects that require tight tolerances. For example, if there is little tolerance in the size or shape of your finished copper products, then laser cutting can help reduce the number of pieces that are rejected.
Energy Efficiency
Using a laser cutting machine can not only help your business save energy, which is great for the environment, but it can also save money in your overall production budget.
Since a highly focused laser beam is used to cut through copper workpieces, minimal waste is produced during the cutting process. This makes it possible to ensure efficient use of the available inventory of copper, keeping material expenses as low as possible.
Although a laser cutter heats copper to a very high temperature to melt the edge that needs to be cut, the heating is concentrated in such a small area that the overall energy usage of the machine is low.
Choosing the Right Laser Cutting Machines for Copper
Copper is a metal that reflects light rather than absorbing the same type of infrared laser light. This makes laser cutting a special challenge for metal fabricators using copper. However, despite its reflective qualities, laser cutting is possible. It just requires the right machine.
Fiber laser cutting machines are ideal for cutting copper because the fiber laser beam does not reflect into the resonator. Additionally, fiber laser cutters are a strong choice for cutting copper because they can optimally cut materials, from thin to thick. Lastly, fiber laser cutting machines can cut a high volume of materials, making production faster for manufacturers.
Professional Copper Laser Cutting with Steelway Laser Cutting
If you’re interested in learning more about how laser cutting can optimize your copper fabrication needs, contact the professionals at Steelway Laser Cutting. With 50+ years in the metal fabrication industry, we provide quality service, competitive pricing, and fast turnaround times to provide complete customer satisfaction.
Contact our expert staff today, and learn more about our services. We will be glad to discuss your project needs to determine how we can best serve you.