Laser cutting method

1. Vaporization cutting

Vaporization cutting requires a high power density. Under the irradiation of such a high power density laser beam, the temperature on the surface of the material instantly rises above the boiling point, causing some materials to vaporize and escape. Some materials quickly become ejecta and are blown away from the bottom of the cutting seam to form a cut or narrow groove. This method is mainly used for cutting materials that cannot be melted, such as wood, paper, carbon, and certain organic substances.

2. Melting cutting

Using high-energy and high-density laser beams to heat the workpiece and melt the material, the nozzle sprays high-pressure non oxidizing gases (such as Ar, He, N, etc.) to eliminate the melted material and form material notches. Melt cutting is commonly used for cutting materials that are not easily oxidized or active metals, such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, and their alloys.

3. Oxygen assisted melting and cutting

Using high-energy and high-density laser beams as preheating heat sources, the nozzle sprays high-pressure oxygen and other active gases as cutting gas. On the one hand, high-pressure oxygen reacts with the metal cutting method to release a large amount of oxidation heat, and on the other hand, it blows out molten oxides and materials from the reaction zone, forming material notches. Oxidative melting cutting is commonly used for easily oxidizable metal materials such as carbon steel, titanium steel, and heat-treated steel.

4. Control fracture cutting

Controlled fracture cutting is the use of laser beams to heat brittle materials that are prone to thermal damage, allowing them to be cut at high speed and controllably. The main processing parameters controlled by the fracture cutting method are laser power and spot size. Control the cutting speed of fracture quickly, without the need for too high laser power, otherwise it will cause the surface of the workpiece to melt, thereby damaging the cutting edge. Commonly used for slicing ceramics or wafers.

A significant feature of laser cutting is the highly effective control of the main parameters that affect processing quality, so that the effect of laser cutting on workpieces can meet practical application requirements and have good repeatability. To achieve a clear contour at the entrance of the cutting seam, narrow cutting seam, minimal thermal damage to the cutting edge, good parallelism of the cutting edge, no cutting slag, and high surface smoothness in laser cutting, it is necessary to understand and control the factors that have a significant impact on laser cutting, such as beam characteristics, laser cutting speed, material properties, etc.