Laser Technology Overview

Laser Technology

• Lasers are a modern source of energy employed in machining due to their precision and quality.
• Laser-machined products have superior dimensional tolerances and accuracy, with minimal heat-affected zones.
• Most laser-cutting machines feature CNC capabilities for quality and timely output.
• The intensity variation of laser beams allows for cutting and engraving diverse materials.

Types of Laser Cutting Machines

• CO2 lasers are ideal for cutting, boring, and engraving.
• Nd lasers are employed for boring and tasks requiring high energy but low repetition.
• Nd:YAG lasers are utilized when high power is necessary, particularly for boring and engraving.

CO2 Lasers

• They have been the most widely used lasers in material processing industries.
• CO2 lasers emit radiation through an electric discharge in a gas mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and helium.
• Their classic emission wavelength is in the infrared region (around 10.6 μm), but lower wavelengths are now used for specific polymer processing.
• CO2 lasers offer a high average power output from a few watts to 50 kW.
• CO2 lasers are currently employed in the automotive industry and steel parts manufacturing.
• They are used for industrial marking, annealing, engraving, and welding metals, plastics, and wood.
• Despite offering excellent beam quality, they have a lower electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency compared to other lasers.

Applications of Laser Cutting

• Laser cutting is used for a wide range of purposes including:
  • Cutting metal sheets
  • Engraving signage
  • Creating prototypes
  • Custom applications like greeting cards and limited edition products.

Future Scope of Laser Cutting

• Integration of design software like SolidWorks to provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for automatically generating part programs.
• Expanding the working area of laser cutting machines.