Cutting

Menu :

• Laser principle
• Laser sources
• Applications
  • Cutting
  • Metallic welding
  • Plastic welding
  • Soldering
  • Brazing
  • Marking, engraving
  • Cleaning and surface preparation
  • Cladding
  • Surface alloying
  • Laser assisted machining
  • Laser machining

Cutting :

The last twenty years have been rich in technical developments in the field of laser cutting. Characterics and powers of the laser sources have considerably improved, offering a wide range of applications and possibilities. The principle of laser cutting has become the reference among other technologies of sheet metal cutting.

Principle :

A laser beam focussed with a lens provides energy densities leading fast instantaneously to the fusion or vaporization of nearly every material. The ejection of the melted or vaporized material with an assistance gas, combined with a moving gives a cutting line. Laser cutting can be performed with a CO2 or Nd-YAG laser.

Characteristics

Cutting with a CO2 laser	Cutting of a wide range of materials: wood, plastic, paper, steel, aluminium, ... High speed High flexibility Precision + / - 0.1 mm
Cutting with a Nd-YAG laser	Possible transport by optic fiber Precision + /- 0.02 mm for pulsed lasers Perfect control of the deposited energy Fast only adapted to metallic materials Limited cutting thickness Cutting with continuous Nd-YAG laser give similar performances and results as with CO2 laser for metallic materials up to 3 to 4 mm thickness.

Industrial applications

Cutting with CO2 laser :

• Airbag cutting
• Cutting of suits tailor-made
• Cutting of pushchair cloth
• Cutting of spectacles display in plexiglass
• Cutting of furniture
• Cutting of wood for form makers
• Cutting of wood for marquetry
• Cutting of a large number of parts for the industry in different metallic materials : titanium and aluminium for aeronautics, steel, low and high alloy steel, coated steel, stainless steel.

Cutting with Nd-YAG laser :

Cutting of parts in steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper and other metallic materials, ceramics, silicon for electronics, watchmaking industry and aeronautics.