Laser Cutter
A laser cutter’s beam usually has a diameter between 0.1 and 0.3 mm and a power of between 1 to 3 kW. This power needs to be adjusted depending on the material being cut and the thickness. To cut reflective materials like aluminum, for instance, you may need laser powers of up to 6 kW.
Laser cutting is not ideal for metals like aluminum and copper alloys because they have excellent heat-conductive and light-reflective properties, meaning they need powerful lasers.
Generally, a laser cutting machine should also be able to engrave and mark. In fact, the only difference between cutting, engraving, and marking is how deep the laser goes and how it changes the overall appearance of the material. In laser cutting, the heat from the laser will cut all the way through the material. But that is not the case with laser marking and laser engraving.
Laser marking discolors the surface of the material being lasered, while laser engraving and etching remove a portion of the material. The main difference between engraving and etching is the depth to which the laser penetrates.
Laser cutting is a process that uses a powerful laser beam to cut through materials, with a beam diameter typically ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 mm and a power of 1 to 3 kW. The laser power needs to be adjusted based on the type of material and its thickness. Reflective metals like aluminum require higher laser power of up to 6 kW. However, laser cutting is not ideal for metals with excellent heat-conductive and light-reflective properties, such as copper alloys.
In addition to cutting, a laser cutting machine can also be used for engraving and marking. Laser marking discolors the surface of the material being lasered, while laser engraving and etching remove a portion of the material. The difference between engraving and etching is the depth to which the laser penetrates.
Three Main Types
1. Gas Lasers/C02 Laser Cutters
The cutting is done using electrically-stimulated CO₂. The CO₂ laser is produced in a mixture that consists of other gases like nitrogen and helium.
CO₂ lasers emit a 10.6-mm wavelength, and a CO₂ laser has enough energy to pierce through a thicker material compared to a fiber laser with the same power. These lasers also give a smoother finish when used to cut thicker materials. CO₂ lasers are the most common types of laser cutters because they are efficient, inexpensive, and can cut and raster several materials.
Materials: Glass, some plastics, some foams, leather, paper-based products, wood, acrylic
2. Crystal Laser Cutters
Crystal laser cutters generate beams from nd:YVO (neodymium-doped yttrium ortho-vanadate) and nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet). They can cut through thicker and stronger materials because they have smaller wavelengths compared to CO₂ lasers, which means they have a higher intensity. But since they are high power, their parts wear out quickly.
Materials: Plastics, metals, and some types of ceramics
3. Fiber Laser Cutters
Here, cutting is done using fiberglass. The lasers originate from a “seed laser” before being amplified via special fibers. Fiber lasers are in the same category with disk lasers and nd:YAG, and belong to a family called “solid-state lasers”. Compared to a gas laser, fiber lasers do not have moving parts, are two to three times more energy-efficient, and are capable of cutting reflective materials without fear of back reflections. These lasers can work with both metal and non-metal materials.
Though somewhat similar to neodymium lasers, fiber lasers require less maintenance. Thus, they offer a cheaper and longer-lasting alternative to crystal lasers
Materials: Plastics and metals
Technology
Gas Lasers/CO2 Laser Cutters: use electrically-stimulated CO2 to emit a 10.6-mm wavelength, and are efficient, inexpensive, and capable of cutting and rastering several materials including glass, some plastics, some foams, leather, paper-based products, wood, and acrylic.
Crystal Laser Cutters: generate beams from nd:YVO and nd:YAG, and can cut through thicker and stronger materials including plastics, metals, and some types of ceramics. However, their high power parts wear out quickly.
Fiber Laser Cutters: use fiberglass and belong to a family called "solid-state lasers". They do not have moving parts, are more energy-efficient than gas lasers, and can cut reflective materials without back reflections. They can work with both metal and non-metal materials including plastics and metals. They offer a cheaper and longer-lasting alternative to crystal lasers.
