The advantages of our Fiber laser cutting machines

Fiber laser cutting is slowly getting the recognition it deserves because it is a technologically advanced way of cutting the shaping different materials in the manufacturing industry. The machines are irreplaceable because of their several advantages, and they win over the old cutting methods, such as mechanical cutting, because of speed and accuracy restrictions.

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Fiber metal laser cutting machine is far superior to traditional cutters because of their high precision and high-speed cutting. Other laser systems are included in the list of fiber laser cutters, such as the:

1. Compact-type fiber laser is smaller but offers the same efficiency and versatility as the Fiber laser cutter.

2. With its open configuration, open-type fiber laser uses fiber optic technology to render efficient processing, manufacturing, and excellent applications. These machines and their components are accessible, exposed, and not enclosed from sight.

Why do people choose fiber laser cutting machines for their manufacturing units?

Fabrication and manufacturing industries rely on high precision works and production rates for business benefits. Fiber laser cutting machine manufacturers rely on the devices’ versatility, speed, and precision. Let’s see the main advantages of laser systems:

1. Accurate cutting: A super high solid intensity beam of laser light is used to penetrate the material, cut it, and shape it according to design. It’s an easy job cutting material into shapes with high positional precision. Cutting the material in a particular dimension with fine details and width can be managed; thus, intricate and detailed designing, including complex shapes, is possible. Fiber laser beam cutting can achieve high levels of precision and accuracy.

Fiber lasers shine a high-power focused beam of light on the material and melt it to achieve intricate and delicate cuts that are precise and accurate. The cutting is detailed and shapes the material as desired. Hence, it is used in electronics, medical, aerospace, and automobile industries.

2. High speed: Fiber laser cutters are known for their fast cutting speeds and accurate design. The production time is reduced significantly as opposed to traditional systems of cutting. High-intensity laser beams have high cutting speeds and help shape the material proficiently through melting and evaporation.

3. Save money and time: If the cutting speeds increase, the time taken to cut the work pieces reduces dramatically, and more shapes are produced, thus helping save time and money. Fiber lasers are energy-efficient, and help cut costs to a great extent because they consume less power. Moreover, the prices also cut down because of the lower maintenance requirements.

4. High production rate: The fast speed of the laser beam melts and evaporates the metal quickly and proficiently. Wasted material is blown away, and the shapes are left behind. The whole process is rapid and efficient, contributing to the production rate. Fiber lasers cut rapidly through various materials resulting in improved cutting efficiency and higher production rates. Fiber laser cutting is especially preferred in the industrial segments with high-volume production needs.

5. Non-Contact Cutting: A fiber laser cutting machine does not let the laser beam come in contact with the material and thus can be called a non-contact process. There is no damage or contamination because there is no physical touch; hence, the process suits sensitive and delicate materials.

6. Minimal Material Waste: The fiber lasers with high precision minimize material wastage because the narrow cutting kerf drastically reduces the material removed during cutting. This is another reason for sustained manufacturing and cost savings.

7. Versatility: Fiber lasers can cut through several metals and materials such as stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminium, wood, certain plastics, composites, etc., making them ideal for different applications of aerospace, aeronautical, locomotive, automotive, electronics, and other manufacturing industries. The high powered laser beam can smoothly slide into materials and metals of different thicknesses and densities, thus making it one of the good choices for the manufacturing and industrial fields.

8. Minimum thermal distortion: Multiple laser light beams are focussed at a particular point, and the surrounding area develops a heat-affected zone during the process. Laser cutters have minimal thermal distortion, and the material’s heat-affected zone is small. There is significantly less damage to the material, and thus the need for additional processing and extra finishing is minimal. The structural integrity of the cut or trimmed areas is preserved to a great extent.

9. Low maintenance and reduced downtime: The Fiber laser machines are more or less stationary with some selective parts that move compared to other cutting methods. This is a positive factor because repairs are reduced, and maintenance is unnecessary, improving productivity and reducing downtime. Well, you may have to pay extra initially, but in the long run, these gadgets are a feasible investment.

10. Reduction in operational costs: The operating costs are lesser; thus, the expenses are reduced. These gadgets consume lesser power and have higher energy efficiency. This is why various manufacturers and industries prefer to get fiber laser cutters for their business facilities. The limited maintenance demands and cutting costs are excellent financing solutions for the manufacturing sector.

Stealth machine tools have several fiber laser machines to offer its clients, namely SS | Compact Type Fiber Laser, SS | Open Type Fiber Laser, SSCP | Fiber Laser Cutting Machine w/ Enclosed Platform, SLCP | MAX Fiber Laser Cutting Machine w/ Enclosed Platform, SSCPR | Fiber Laser Cutting Machine Enclosed w/ Platform & Rotary Attachment.

Laser cutting offers a number of advantages over traditional mechanical cutting methods (such as die punching or saw cutting) as well as other similar techniques, such as plasma cutting or waterjet cutting.

Many of the advantages stem from the fact that laser cutters cut with a narrow beam with a favorable wavelength and from the fact that there is a good level of energy containment in the cutting process. 

Next, we’ll share why these properties create advantages over other cutting methods.

Higher Accuracy and Smaller Kerf Sizes

Accuracy - The beam from laser machines is extremely focused and only touches a small surface area on the material, meaning that they produce very accurate and focused cuts. With accuracy levels of ±0.1 mm, laser cutters are often best where a high level of precision is required. 

Kerf - The narrow area of focus with a laser beam also results in smaller kerf widths compared to other methods. Kerf is the width of the area of material removed during the cutting process.

The kerf laser cutting makes is barely larger than the size of the beam. It is possible to produce kerf widths as narrow as 0.1mm with laser cutting, although kerf widths vary between 0.1mm and 1mm. The kerf thickness depends on the laser cutter being used and the material being cut.

In comparison, waterjet cutting produces a kerf width of around 0.9mm, while oxy-fuel and plasma cutting produce kerf sizes of 1.1mm and 3.8mm, respectively. To compare laser cutting to manual cutting methods, mechanical or hand saws generally produce a kerf size of about 3.175mm (10x the kerf of a laser cutter).

Having a smaller kerf size has the following advantages:

• Improved sheet utilization, which reduces waste and cost.
• Reduced need to offset cutting where accuracy is important.

High Levels of Repeatability

Laser cutters produce complex, precision parts in a repeatable and efficient manner, and this allows manufacturers to create multiple exact copies of the same parts over large production runs or even in separate production runs.

Laser cutting machines are CNC controlled, and generally operated using complex software to optimize part path, machine speed and sheet metal utilization. As well as this, laser cutters also cut without making contact with the material they are cutting. No wear or degradation occurs at the laser cutters cutting edge, meaning that the cutting action does not vary across a production run. This compares to saw cutting, for example, where the blade may deteriorate or become misshaped during production.

This advantage applies when comparing laser cutting to mechanical cutting methods, such as saw cutting. Waterjet cutting and plasma cutting offer similar levels of repeatability as laser cutting.

Less Material Contamination in the Cut Area

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Many mechanical cutting methods require cutting oils to reduce friction and otherwise aid in the cutting process. Cutting oil can, however, be tough to remove after cutting, even with the aid of processes like shot blasting. This cutting oil can hinder later processes, such as the proper adhesion of finishes or protective coatings that are applied to a part after cutting, for example.

Laser cutting does not share this drawback because there’s rarely any need to use coolants or lubricants while cutting.

Limited Post-Cut Finishing Requirements

Laser cutting produces high-quality cut edges, which reduces the need for secondary finishing. In many cases, no secondary finishing is required after laser cutting.

The accurate, clean cuts that laser cutters leave usually have fewer surface imperfections related to the cutting process, such as burrs or excess material, that need to be removed after cutting. The effect of friction and wear forces that can cause surface imperfections like warping or mechanical distortions is also often avoided.

Laser cutting is often much preferable in this respect, when compared to mechanical cutting methods, such as saw cutting, shearing or drilling.   

Removing surface imperfections and completing other finishing processes can significantly increase production costs. Where laser cutting avoids the use of these processes, both time and money can be saved.

As well as there being reduced need for finishing with laser cutting, there is also usually no need to clean laser cut parts after cutting. Again, this can be an advantage over other cutting methods.

Laser Cutting Offers More Flexibility

The flexibility of laser cutting presents itself in two folds.

The first is in its cutting versatility and in the broad range of custom designs and shapes that can be produced through laser cutting. Often laser cutting is the best thing for highly complex and intricate parts. When compared to other methods, such as sawing, CNC milling, flame cutting and even plasma cutting, laser cutting is much more adaptable.

Often laser cutting can quickly do in one cutting process what might need several alternative cutting processes.  Certain part geometries or designs that are possible with laser cutting may not be possible at all with other methods.

As well as being able to perform many different types of cut, laser cutting can also be used for a range of different material types and thicknesses. One point worth noting, in this regard, is that laser cutting can be used to cut plastics and wood, whereas plasma cutting cannot.

Laser Cutting Offers the Best Sheet Utilization

Fig. 4: Laser Cutting Sheet Metal

As a combined result of the smaller kerf widths, lower levels of mechanical distortion, little to no surface imperfections and tighter tolerances, it’s possible to cut more parts from the same sheet with laser cutting.

With laser cutting, it’s possible to use as much as  94%+ of a sheet. This reduces cost and waste which translates directly to lower part costs than other cutting methods.

Fiber lasers are particularly good when it comes to sheet utilization.

Laser Cutting Provides Superior Speed

Laser cutters can reach speeds of up to inches ( cm) per minute. As such, they offer superior cutting speed compared to traditional cutting methods like wire cutting and bandsaw cutting.

Cutting with a bandsaw, for example, will take about 10 times as long as it takes with a laser cutter. Using a wire cutter may take up to 100 times the amount of time.  Plasma and water jet cutting are also generally slower than laser cutting, except on very thick materials or in cases where the laser wattage is relatively low.

On top of this, the entire laser-cutting process is automated. There’s no need to halt the process to adjust the sheet metal or machinery when cutting intricate parts. All these factors increase the speed of production.

Factor Laser Cutting Waterjet Cutting Plasma Cutting Mechanical Cutting Precision/Tolerances ± 0. mm ± 0. mm ± 0.254 mm - ± 0.762 mm Thicker, but depends on process Intricate Design Capabilities Most Capable Most Capable Some not possible Many not possible No Mechanical Distortion Yes Yes No, especially with thin metal sheets No No Thermal Distortion No Yes No No Material Costs (Less Waste) Yes Yes More waste than with laser and waterjet cutting High waste levels with many methods Tooling Costs None None None Sometimes Low – Medium Volume Production X X X Yes Composite/Multi-layer Material Requires higher laser power Capable X Yes Thick Materials Not capable Capable Capable Capable Range of Suitable Materials Metals, plastic, wood, glass Metal, glass, wood Electrically conductive metals Metals, plastic, wood, glass

Table 1: Comparison of Cutting Technologies: Laser, Waterjet, Plasma, and Mechanical

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