Work Theory of the Laser Cutting

Machine
Laser has been applied in teaching, military as well as industrial
production. Laser cutting machine is one of the applications. It can be
used in both metal and non-metal cutting, Melting surface material by
laser beam. This article will discuss the work theory of laser cutting
machine.

Introduction on the work theory of laser cutting machine.

Laser cutting machine adopts the energy released on the time when laser
beam irradiate metal surface. The metal is melt by laser and sinter is
blow away by gas. Because laser power is highly focused, only a very little
heat effects the other part of metal plate and causes a little or no
deformation. Laser can cut any complex shape precisely, which needs no
further processing.
Laser source is generally CO2 laser beam with operating power of 500
5000W. The power is even lower than that of many household electric heater,
and because of lenses and reflectors, laser beams are focused in a very
small bit of area. Highly focused energy heat the area quickly and makes
the metal plate melted.
Laser cutting machine can cut stainless steal of thickness less than 16mm;

when adding oxygen in laser beam, the cutting thickness is 810mm but
it will generate a thin oxidation film in the cut surface. The maximum
thickness is 16mm which leads to larger cutting deviation on the size of
components.
Since the advent of laser, numerous laser products have been developed,
such as laser printer, laser cosmetic instrument, laser marker, laser
cutting machine etc. Due to its late start in China, the laser technology
in China is greatly behind the developed countries. Although Chinese
manufacturers can produce plenty of laser products, some key parts such
as laser tube, driving motor, galvanometer and focus lens are imported
products. This leads to an increase on cost thus an increase on consumer's
payment.
In recent years, domestic research and production of
laser products
become closer to advanced overseas products with the progress of laser
technology in China. Some aspects are even superior to products abroad,
which has a leading role in market because of the
advantages of price.
Overseas products have absolute predominance in precision machining for
its quality on stability and endurance.

Work theory of laser cutting machine

Laser tube is the core part of laser cutting machine. So, below is an
introduction of the most popular laser tube. CO2 laser tube.
Laser tube is composed of hard glasses, so it is fragile. It adopts layer
of sleeve construction with discharge tube in the most inside layer.
However, the diameter of discharge tube is thicker than laser tube,
diffraction between the thickness of discharge tube and the size of flare
is in direct ratio; the length of tube is in proportion to output power
of discharge tube.
Laser tube generates a large quantity of heat in the
operation of laser cutting machine, which influences the normal work. So
cold water machine is needed to cool laser tube, ensuring constant
temperature for successful running.

Cutting features of laser cutting machine

Advantages of laser cutting:
One high efficiency
Laser cutting machine is always connected to several
numerically-controlled rotary tables to achieve numerical controlled
cutting. It only needs to change the NC program to adjust to components
of different shapes, which can make 2D cutting as well as 3D cutting.
Two high speed
When cutting low carbon steel sheets of 2mm thickness, the speed of 1200W
laser cutting is 600cmmin; when it is 5mm thick polypropylene resin plate,
the cutting speed is 1200cmmin. The material needs no clamping fix in laser
cutting process.
Three high quality cutting
Laser cutting features thin kerf. The two sides of kerf are parallel and
the kerf is vertical to the surface. The cutting precision can reach to
0.05mm. The cutting surface is clean and nice, with roughness of tens
of microns. The cut components can even come into use directly without
further machining. After laser cutting, the heat effected area is very
small and material near to kerf has not been affected, making little
deformation, high cutting precicion and perfect geometrical shape.
Four non-contact cutting
Laser cutting is non-contact cutting, which means no tool wear problem.
When processing different shapes, there is no need to change tools, the
only way is to alter the output parameter of laser. The whole laser cutting
process features low noise, little vibration and little pollution.
Five various cutting material
Compared to oxyacetylene cutting and plasma cutting, laser cutting can
be applied on more materials, including metal and non-metal, metal matrix
and non-metallic matrix composite, leather, wood as well as fibers.

Cutting methods of laser cutting machine

Vaporization cutting
It means that vaporization is the main way to remove the processed material.
In the process of vaporization cutting, workpiece surface is heated to
vaporization temperature quickly by focused laser beams, forming High
pressure steam and spraying outward at supersonic speeds. In the meantime,

a hole is formed in the laser active area and laser beams reflex several
times in the hole to increase the absorption of laser by material.
When high-pressure vapors spray outward, the melted materials are blown
away in the kerf till the workpiece is finally cut. Vaporization cutting
needs very high power density, which is eighth power of ten watt above
per square centimeter. It is usually applied in low flash point materials
and refractory materials.

Reaction Fusion Cutting

When assistant airflow not only blows the melted materials from the kerf
but also has thermal reaction with the workpiece, this is the so-called
reaction fusion cutting. Gases that can have reaction with workpiece are
oxygen or mixture gases containing oxygen. When the surface temperature
of workpiece reach to ignition temperature, strong combustion heat
release occurs to improve the laser cutting ability.
Combustion heat release of low carbon steel and stainless steel is 60%.
And it is about 90% for reactive metals like titanium.
Compared to vaporization cutting and general fusion cutting, reaction
fusion cutting need less laser power density. However, reaction fusion
cutting may effect the performance of worpiece since the combustion
reaction can lead to chemical reaction on materials.
Fusion Cutting
When adding a assistant airflow system coaxial with laser to
blow the
melted materials away from kerf, this kind of cutting is fusion cutting.
In fusion cutting, workpiece needn't to be heated to vaporization
temperature so the required laser power density is reduced greatly.
Laser Scribing
It is mainly used in semiconductor materials, in which laser of high power
density make a shallow groove in the semiconductor materials of the
workpiece and then makes it crack through mechanistic or vibratory methods.

The quality is valued by the surface fragments and size of heat affect
area.
Cold Chipping
It is a new processing method, which is put forward along with ultraviolet
band superpower excimer laser appeared in recent years. The basic theory
is that energy of ultraviolet photons is similar to binding energy of many
organic materials; this high-energy photons are used to impact bond
organic materials thus make it crack, achieving purpose of cutting. This
new technology has promising application future, especially in electron
industry.
Thermal Stress Cutting
Mechanism of thermal stress cutting is that laser beams heat an area of
fragile material to produce evident temperature gradient. The high
surface temperature makes expansion and inner lower temperature hinders
expansion, forming pulling stress in the surface and radial crushing
stress inside. When the two stresses exceed fracture limit strength of
the workpiece, crackle appears. And then the workpiece is broken along
the normal direction of the crack. It is suitable for glasses and ceramics.
Conclusion: laser cutting machine is a cutting technology of melting and
gasifying surface material through focused energy generated by the use
of laser specialties and focused lens. It features good cutting quality,
high speed, various cutting material and high efficiency.