Laser cutting is the use of a focused high-power density laser beam to irradiate the workpiece, so that the irradiated material is quickly melted, vaporized, ablated or reached the ignition point. At the same time, the molten material is blown away with the help of the high speed air flow with the coaxial beam, thus cutting the workpiece. Laser cutting is one of the hot cutting methods.
Laser cutting can be divided into four categories: laser vaporization, laser melting, laser oxygen cutting, laser scribing and controlled fracture.
Laser vaporization cutting
The high energy density laser beam is used to heat the workpiece, which makes the temperature rise rapidly and reaches the boiling point of the material in a very short time. The material begins to vaporize and forms steam. These vapour spew out very fast, and when the steam comes out, the incision is formed on the material. The vaporization heat of materials is generally large, so laser power cutting requires large power and power density.
Laser vaporization is used for cutting very thin metal and non-metallic materials (such as paper, cloth, wood, plastic and rubber).
Laser melting and cutting
When the laser is melted and cut, the metal material is melted by laser heating, and then the non oxidizing gas (Ar, He, N, etc.) is blown with the coaxial nozzle, and the liquid metal is discharged by the strong pressure of the gas to form a cut. Laser melting and cutting does not need to vaporize the metal completely. The energy required is only vaporized 1/10.
Laser melting and cutting is mainly used for cutting some non oxidizing materials or active metals, such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum and their alloys.
Laser oxygen cutting
The principle of laser oxygen cutting is similar to oxyacetylene cutting. It uses laser as preheating heat source and uses oxygen and other active gases as cutting gas. On the one hand, the gas produced by the spray has an oxidation reaction and a large amount of oxidation heat. On the other hand, the molten oxides and melts are blown out from the reaction zone and the incisions are formed in the metal. Because the oxidation reaction in the cutting process produces a lot of heat, the energy required for the laser oxygen cutting is only the 1/2 of the cutting, and the cutting speed is far greater than that of the laser vaporization cutting and the melting cutting.
Laser oxygen cutting is mainly used for oxidizing metal materials such as carbon steel, titanium steel and heat treated steel.
Laser cutting and controlling fracture
Laser cutting is the use of high energy density laser scanning on the surface of the brittle material, so that the material is heated to evaporate a small slot, and then a certain pressure is applied, and the brittle material will crack along the small groove. Lasers used for laser scribing are generally Q switch lasers and CO2 lasers.
Controlling the fracture is the steep temperature distribution produced by laser grooving, producing local thermal stress in brittle materials, and breaking the material along the small groove.
Laser cutting can be divided into four categories: laser vaporization, laser melting, laser oxygen cutting, laser scribing and controlled fracture.
Laser vaporization cutting
The high energy density laser beam is used to heat the workpiece, which makes the temperature rise rapidly and reaches the boiling point of the material in a very short time. The material begins to vaporize and forms steam. These vapour spew out very fast, and when the steam comes out, the incision is formed on the material. The vaporization heat of materials is generally large, so laser power cutting requires large power and power density.
Laser vaporization is used for cutting very thin metal and non-metallic materials (such as paper, cloth, wood, plastic and rubber).
Laser melting and cutting
When the laser is melted and cut, the metal material is melted by laser heating, and then the non oxidizing gas (Ar, He, N, etc.) is blown with the coaxial nozzle, and the liquid metal is discharged by the strong pressure of the gas to form a cut. Laser melting and cutting does not need to vaporize the metal completely. The energy required is only vaporized 1/10.
Laser melting and cutting is mainly used for cutting some non oxidizing materials or active metals, such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum and their alloys.
Laser oxygen cutting
The principle of laser oxygen cutting is similar to oxyacetylene cutting. It uses laser as preheating heat source and uses oxygen and other active gases as cutting gas. On the one hand, the gas produced by the spray has an oxidation reaction and a large amount of oxidation heat. On the other hand, the molten oxides and melts are blown out from the reaction zone and the incisions are formed in the metal. Because the oxidation reaction in the cutting process produces a lot of heat, the energy required for the laser oxygen cutting is only the 1/2 of the cutting, and the cutting speed is far greater than that of the laser vaporization cutting and the melting cutting.
Laser oxygen cutting is mainly used for oxidizing metal materials such as carbon steel, titanium steel and heat treated steel.
Laser cutting and controlling fracture
Laser cutting is the use of high energy density laser scanning on the surface of the brittle material, so that the material is heated to evaporate a small slot, and then a certain pressure is applied, and the brittle material will crack along the small groove. Lasers used for laser scribing are generally Q switch lasers and CO2 lasers.
Controlling the fracture is the steep temperature distribution produced by laser grooving, producing local thermal stress in brittle materials, and breaking the material along the small groove.