Laser cutting for the Finished Surfaces

Laser cutting has prominently made its way into the manufacturing industry with a gamut of industrial applications depending completely on this method. Traditional methods of cutting have been totally replaced with laser beams, for it is the highly accurate and effective way to make intricate cuts and holes. Over mechanical method, laser cutting is more precise and doesn’t contaminate the material at all. Moreover, the possibility of warping the material becomes the least when using laser.

Laser beams are used for cutting stainless steel, aluminum plates, titanium and more such metals used in almost all the industries.

Nations are developing fast, & the leaped growth needed can only come with advancement in technology. One such nation adapting to the advancement in technology & adopting the same at various levels of applications in Singapore. Laser cutting in Singapore is high on demand and the industrial method used in cutting metals involves high-intensity light that resonates through the laser resonator and is reflected in many directions via mirrors to finally deliver a beam that is centered to the nozzle. Special curved lenses are used to direct the beam to a single spot that results in high-density rays pointing to a single spot. This high-density laser rapidly heats, melts and evaporates the metal to impart a fine cut. Compressed gases like Oxygen or nitrogen are used to blow the molten metal away from the kerf. Pure oxygen is used for cutting mild steel whereas stainless steel is generally melted away through high beam and nitrogen is blown to clear the molten metal out of the kerf.

Laser beams can be used to give coveted shapes to the metal plates just by adjusting the focal point of the laser cutter. This focal length determines the quality of the cut and there are many other factors that must be controlled properly to maintain the accuracy like the gas flow from the nozzle, surface thickness, laser power, laser technology, material type and quality.

The three main variants of lasers that are used for cutting usually include:

1) CO2 laser - for cutting, boring, engraving
2) Neodymium laser – for boring with high energy and low repetitions

3) Neodymium yttrium – aluminum-garnet lasers – for boring and engraving with high power

There are various techniques used in order to perfectly cut and shape the materials. Some of them are:

• Vaporization cutting:

This method allows the surface to heat up to its boiling point thereby creating a hole. As the material boils and evaporates, the hole becomes deeper.

• Thermal Stress cracking:

Thermal fracture is caused by expanding the material with high temperatures that eventually leads to cracking of the material.

• Melt and Blow:

A high-pressure gas melts the metal and the gas jet blows the molten metal from the kerf.

• Reactive Cutting:

Very thick steel plates are cut by the laser beam.

• Stealth dicing:

Metal fabrication in Singapore is done using stealth dicing which is one of the highest quality cutting technique known for semiconductor wafer dicing.

• Tube laser cutting:

This technique can cut 24-foot tubes, channels, beams and angles without the required manual setup.

Types of Lasers

Cutting lasers and etching lasers are two different technologies that solve two different purposes. The former is used to cut the metals while the latter is explicitly used to engrave the objects and metal blocks or sheets.

Laser is immensely used for all kinds of metal works in Singapore and is the best method to precisely cut all kinds of materials for a better finish and an enhanced aesthetic appeal. No other method is as effective and clean as the laser cutting.