What is Laser Cutting?
Laser cutting is a machining process that uses a high-energy laser beam to cut through any material. Laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It is one of the most popular types of industrial cutting processes. Lately, laser cutters have also become prevalent in small workshops, hobbyists, businesses, and schools. Laser cutting works on cutting every material regardless of its physical properties.
What are the Different Types of Laser Cutting Processes?
CO2 Laser Cutting
In CO2 laser cuttings, the laser amplification occurs through a CO2 gas discharge. CO2 lasers are one of the earliest and most popular types of lasers. The gas discharge isn’t entirely CO2. It contains CO2, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Xenon, and Helium. C02 laser cutting comes with two options: using Oxygen or Nitrogen gas. Oxygen gas is preferred for laser cutting thicker materials. Nitrogen gas is preferred for laser-cutting thin sheets. Using oxygen C02 laser cutting creates an oxide layer on the cut surface. Pre-treatment processes such as blasting are done on the workpiece to avoid this.
Fiber Laser Cutting
Fiber laser cutting uses optical fiber for light amplification instead of conventional gas discharge. Light emitted through laser diodes passes through the optical fiber. The resultant light beam is sufficiently strong to melt away stainless steel up to 1 cm in thickness. A strong airflow system often accompanies the light beam. The airflow pushes away the molten material for a clean cut. The fiber optics of these lasers utilize several elements like Ytterbium, Neodymium, Erbium, and Dysprosium.
Nd:YAG Laser Cutting
Nd:YAG stands for Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:Y3Al5O12). Nd:YAG crystals are used in lasers for amplified beam instead of gas discharge or fiber. These lasers are capable of both continuous and pulsed laser beam.
Excimer Laser cutting
Excimer stands for Excited Dimer. Excimer laser cutting uses an ultraviolet laser beam. Excimer laser cutting is used in small-scale precision cutting processes. Some common examples are eye surgery, microelectronics, and semiconductor cutting.
Direct Diode Laser Cutting
Direct Diode Laser (DDL) uses a laser beam directly from the diodes. There are no amplification mediums like gas discharge or fiber. The diodes directly produce a strong enough laser beam for the cutting process. Direct diode laser cutting has a very high efficiency.
