What is laser cutting?

Laser cutting is a high precision CNC thermal process that uses a high-power laser beam to cut, melt, or burn a material sheet. It uses a focussed beam of light to cut and etch sheet material to the design specification. Ideal for a variety of material types (including metals, wood and polymers), it is capable of producing complicated parts without using a custom-designed tool.

The process is suitable for both one-off jobs and low, medium volume production due to its high repeatability. Laser cutting is particularly useful for the fabrication of metals (steel, brass, aluminum, or nickel). It has become a firm favorite in the production of medical products owing to its high precision, reliability, and resultant smooth finishes.

In contrast to CNC machining, laser cutting works with sheet material, producing shapes and forms no more profound than 10mm (depending on the material type).

In this article, the key differences between the main types of laser cutting are introduced, and the characteristics of the process are discussed. By the end, you will have an overview of the basic principles of the technology and how these relate to its key benefits and limitations.

Laser cutting offers near unparalleled flexibility when working with sheets of material. It can cut, engrave, or score a variety of different shapes from the same material thickness without changing setup - regardless of complexity or size.

Laser cutting can give exact cuts and marks, suitable for anything from bottle openers to circuit boards. This is both faster and more efficient than manual fabrication methods.

Excerpted from: https://www.hubs.com/blog/laser-cutting/