A metal laser cutter is a machine and equipment that uses laser technology to cut. Nowadays, many metal processing manufacturers use laser cutting machine to cut metal. Laser is a kind of light beam with very strong release ability, which can realize rapid cutting in a short time. Metal laser cutting machine is mainly for cutting carbon steel, silicon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, galvanized sheet, aluminized zinc plate, copper and other metal materials such as fast cutting

Metal laser cutting machine is used in sheet metal processing, aviation, aerospace, electronics, electrical appliances, subway parts, automobiles, machinery, precision fittings, ships, metallurgical equipment, elevators, household appliances, crafts and gifts, tool processing, decoration, advertising, and other various manufacturing and processing industries.

So, what is the principle of metal laser cutting machine? What are the classifications of metal laser cutting?

See below the principle of metal laser cutting machine and classification analysis:

Metal laser cutting machine principle

Laser cutting is the use of focused high power density laser beam irradiation of the workpiece, so that the irradiated material rapidly melting, vaporization, ablation, or to reach the ignition point, at the same time, with the help of coaxial and beam of high-speed air blowing off the molten material, so as to achieve the workpiece cut. Laser cutting belongs to one of the thermal cutting methods.

Classification of metal laser cutting

Laser cutting can be divided into four categories: laser vapor cutting, laser melting cutting, laser oxygen cutting and laser scribing and control fracture.

The advantages of the types of metal laser cutting machine

Laser vapor cutting: the use of high energy density laser beam heating the workpiece, so that the temperature rises rapidly, in a very short period of time to reach the boiling point of the material, the material begins to vaporize, the formation of vapors. These vapors are ejected at a very high rate, and at the same time as the vapors are ejected, a cut is formed in the material. The heat of vaporization of the material is generally very high, so high power and power density are required for laser vapor cutting. Laser vapor cutting is mostly used for cutting very thin metallic and non-metallic materials.

Laser melting cutting

The metal material is melted by laser heating, and then non-oxidizing gases (Ar, He, N, etc.) are blown through the nozzle coaxial with the beam, relying on the strong pressure of the gas to discharge the liquid metal and form a cut. Laser melting cutting does not need to make the metal completely vaporized, the required energy is only 1/10 of the vapor cutting. laser melting cutting is mainly used for some materials that are not easy to oxidize or active metal cutting, such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum and its alloys.

Laser vapor cutting

The use of high energy density laser beam heating the workpiece, so that the temperature rises rapidly, in a very short period of time to reach the boiling point of the material, the material begins to vaporize, the formation of vapors. These vapors are ejected at a great rate, and at the same time as the vapors are ejected, a cut is formed in the material. The heat of vaporization of the material is generally very high, so high power and power density are required for laser vapor cutting. Laser vapor cutting is mostly used for cutting very thin metallic and non-metallic materials.

Laser Oxygen Cutting

The laser is used as the preheating heat source, and oxygen and other active gases are used as the cutting gas. On the one hand, the gas blown out acts with the cutting metal and undergoes oxidizing reaction, releasing a large amount of oxidizing heat; on the other hand, the molten oxides and melted materials are blown out from the reaction area, forming a kerf in the metal. Due to the oxidation reaction in the cutting process produces a large amount of heat, so the laser oxygen cutting energy required is only 1/2 of the melting cutting, and the cutting speed is much greater than the laser vapor cutting and melting cutting. Laser oxygen cutting is mainly used for carbon steel, titanium steel and heat-treated steel and other metal materials that are easy to oxidize.

Laser scribing and controlled fracture

The use of high energy density laser scanning on the surface of brittle materials, so that the material is heated to evaporate a small groove, and then apply a certain amount of pressure, the brittle material will be cracked along the small groove. The lasers used for laser scribing are typically Q-switched lasers and CO2 lasers. Controlled fracture utilizes the steep temperature distribution created when the laser scribes the groove to create localized thermal stresses in the brittle material, causing the material to break along the small groove.

Above is the introduction of metal laser cutting machine.