Oct 28 2012
Metal Cutting with Laser Equipment
There are many methods available today for metal cutting. In ancient times metal cutting could only be accomplished by manual methods where a machined tool normally with pressure and teeth would cut through the metal. Today metal cutting can be performed without the equipment touching the metal. Laser cutting has become one of the most efficient ways of cutting metal without contact with the material. Lasers can cut stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel and many other materials.
Laser cutting metal occurs when a resonator produces a beam of light focused on the metal you want to cut. CO2 laser cutting is the most common lasers where cutting is performed with assist gas or nitrogen. We have laser cutting equipment will cut flat sheet metal or tubular parts with a straight beam or at an angle with a laser head that is mounted to perform metal cutting on an axis. Noble Industries also has 6 axis laser capabilities with the use of Mazak Space Gear which allows us to cut metal at an angle for countersinking holes while cutting the profile of 1500 OEM metal brackets in 7 gauge A36 material. Lastly the Fabri-Gear is the most efficient laser for cutting multiple shapes in tube and pipe which we use for medical device customers. For stainless steel or aluminum sheet metal we use nitrogen for a higher quality edge surface. Our operators are also aware that aluminum and stainless steel are highly heat conductive and can reflect the light beam. They have been trained for precision set ups when using aluminum or stainless steel. Operators also must calculate the material thickness and the wattage of the laser to know if the laser beam will be able to cut the parts with a smooth edge.
We have had several requests lately for cutting holes in stamped and formed metal parts. This process is most efficiently performed by Nd: YAG laser equipment where the beam can be positioned to many angles and can also trim the stamped edges.
Laser cutting equipment continues to evolve with fiber optic lasers and other processes that can help metal fabricators cut metal faster, with efficient use of energy and with a nice smooth edge.
