Laser Cutting Machine

Classification of laser cutting machines

• According to the type of laser, laser cutting Machines can be divided into fiber laser cutting machines, CO2 laser cutting machines, semiconductor laser cutting machines, etc. Among them, fiber laser cutting machines are widely used in metal processing.
• According to the power division, laser cutting machine can be divided into high power laser cutting machine, medium power laser cutting machine, precision laser cutting machine, etc., different power laser cutting machine processing thickness and efficiency are also very different, there are already 10,000 watts of high power Fiber Laser Cutting Machine used in industrial production

How to choose a laser cutting machine

1. In recent years, laser cutting technology has been more and more widely used in handicraft processing, whether in the field of metal cutting or non-metal cutting. Faced with the numerous laser cutting equipment on the market, how to choose the one that suits the company itself? The required laser cutting machine can be considered from the following aspects:：
2. First consider the materials processed by the company. Generally divided into two types, metal cutting and non-metal cutting. Choose a machine according to the material of the cutting material. There is also a mixed cutting method, which can be used for metal or non-metal cutting, but this kind of machine is not recommended because it is difficult to use. CO2 laser cutting machines are mainly used to cut non-metallic materials, with a wavelength of around 10,600. It is best to use optical fiber or YAG equipment for cutting metal materials, because their wavelength is between 1060 and 1070, and metal materials have energy absorption problems in this wavelength. If you can use CO2 equipment to cut, it will rely entirely on energy-based hot melting.
3. For non-metal cutting, the machines are divided into high power and low power according to different application functions. Some low-power cutting machines are only suitable for color plates, architectural models, small signs, and three-dimensional handicraft material processing. This process has been popular for some time, but the power is too small, which will greatly affect its application scope. Another kind of high-power spindle cutting machine is divided into two categories, one is the large format cutting machine: the size is generally more than 1 meter, but this is generally a poor precision cutting machine, the other is the gentle cutting machine: this kind of engraving machine The machine is generally used in precision machining and organic sign making. In terms of size, according to ones own needs, the size of the object cutting area, the size of the site, choose laser engraving machine. In general, each manufacturer has a different laser cutting machine size, like TOPE laser, there are four different sizes to meet the needs of different industries, for small DIY workshops, they can choose a small laser cutting machine.
   For metal cutting, if most of the enterprise's own process needs are plates below 3mm, a small amount of 3-6mm plates, and the product batch is small and there are many kinds, then the purchase of 500W small and medium-sized power YAG metal laser cutting machine can cut copper, aluminum and other highly reflective materials, overcoming the shortcomings of fiber and CO2 laser in cutting highly reflective materials. If the enterprise itself is mainly processing handicrafts, then the purchase of 40w-150W laser cutting engraving machine is the best choice, the equipment procurement cost is low and the processing materials are diverse, and the cost performance is high. Therefore, the size of the power can not be used as the only indicator to evaluate the quality of a laser cutting machine, and the equipment that can properly meet the processing level of the enterprise is a more rational choice.。
4. Equipment quality, the use of stability is also a very important indicator. Now the product research and development cycle is short, the replacement is getting faster and faster, the diversity of products, sample trial production, mass production is more, how to ensure the quality and quantity to complete customer orders, maintain the reputation of the enterprise, enhance the competitiveness of the enterprise is also placed in front of each operator a difficult task, so the purchase of stable performance processing equipment is the premise and foundation, Try to choose a brand with a high market share, a sound after-sales service system, a number of after-sales service outlets and a long-term market test, and can not only buy products with poor quality and no after-sales service because of low prices, which will have a huge impact on the production of enterprises. The after-sales service of each manufacturer is very different, and the warranty length is also uneven.

Brief introduction of three kinds of laser cutting machine

YAG solid laser cutting machine

YAG solid laser cutting machine has the characteristics of low price and good stability, but the energy efficiency is generally less than 3%, the current output power of the product is mostly below 800W, due to the output energy is small, mainly used for drilling and cutting sheet. Its green laser beam can be applied in the case of pulse or continuous wave, with short wavelength, good light concentration for precision machining, especially the most effective hole machining under pulse, can also be used for cutting, welding and lithography. The wavelength of the laser is not easy to be absorbed by non-metals, so it can not cut non-metallic materials, and the YAG solid laser cutting machine needs to solve is to improve the stability and life of the power supply, that is, to develop a large-capacity, long-life optical pump excitation light source, such as the use of semiconductor optical pump can make the energy efficiency increase greatly.

Main advantages: it can cut other laser cutting machine can not cut aluminum plate, copper plate and most non-ferrous metal materials, the machine purchase price is cheap, the use of low cost, simple maintenance, most of the key technologies have been mastered by domestic enterprises, parts prices and maintenance costs are low, and the machine operation and maintenance is simple, the quality of workers is not high.

Main disadvantages and disadvantages: only materials below 8mm can be cut, and the cutting efficiency is quite low.

Main market positioning: Cutting below 8mm, mainly for self-use type of small and medium-sized enterprises and processing requirements are not particularly high most sheet metal manufacturing, home appliance manufacturing, kitchenware manufacturing, decoration, advertising and other industry users, gradually replace wire cutting, CNC punch, water cutting, low power plasma and other traditional processing equipment.

Fiber laser cutting machine

Optical fiber laser cutting machine because it can be transmitted through optical fiber, the degree of flexibility is unprecedented, the fault point is less, the maintenance is convenient, and the speed is fast, so the optical fiber cutting machine has a great advantage when cutting the thin plate within 4mm, but it is affected by the solid-state laser wavelength when cutting the thick plate. The wavelength of the fiber laser cutting machine is 1.06um, which is not easy to be absorbed by non-metals, so it cannot cut non-metallic materials. The photoelectric conversion rate of fiber laser is up to more than 25%, and the advantages of fiber laser are quite obvious in terms of electricity consumption and supporting cooling system. According to international safety standards, the laser hazard rating is divided into 4 levels, fiber laser because of the wave length of the human body, especially the eyes, is the most harmful level, for safety considerations, fiber laser processing needs a fully closed environment.

Main advantages: high photoelectric conversion rate, less power consumption, can cut stainless steel plate within 12MM, carbon steel plate, is the fastest laser cutting machine in the three kinds of machines, small slit, good spot quality, can be used for fine cutting.

Main weaknesses and disadvantages: At present, most of the core key technologies of fiber lasers are in the hands of one or two manufacturers in Europe and the United States and other countries, so most of the machines are expensive, most of the machines are priced at more than 1.5 million, and the low-power ones are basically about 500,000 yuan. When cutting, due to the fine cutting of the fiber, the gas consumption is huge (especially when cutting nitrogen). In addition, fiber laser cutting machine is difficult or even can not cut aluminum plate, copper plate and other highly reflective materials, and the speed is very slow when cutting thick plates.

Main market positioning: cutting below 12mm, especially the high precision processing of thin plates, mainly for manufacturers with high precision and efficiency requirements, it is estimated that with the emergence of 5000W and above lasers, fiber laser cutting machines will eventually replace most of the market for CO2 high-power laser cutting machines.

CO2 laser cutting machineCO2

CO2 laser cutting machine can stably cut carbon steel within 20mm, stainless steel within 10mm, aluminum alloy below 8mm. The wavelength of CO2 laser is 10.6um, which is easy to be absorbed by non-metals, and can cut wood, acrylic, PP, plexiglass and other non-metallic materials with high quality, but the photoelectric conversion rate of CO2 laser is only about 10%. The CO2 laser cutting machine is equipped with a nozzle spraying oxygen, compressed air or inert gas N2 at the beam outlet to improve the cutting speed and the smooth and smooth incision. In order to improve the stability and life of the power supply, the discharge stability of the high-power laser should be solved for the CO2 gas laser. According to international safety standards, the laser hazard rating is divided into 4 levels, and CO2 laser is the least harmful level.

Main advantages: large power, the general power is between 2000-4000W, can cut the full size of stainless steel, carbon steel and other conventional materials within 25 mm, as well as aluminum plate within 4 mm and acrylic plate within 60MM, wood material plate, PVC plate, and the speed is very fast when cutting sheet. In addition, because the CO2 laser output is a continuous laser, when cutting, it is the smoothest and best cutting section effect of these three laser cutting machines.

Main disadvantages and shortcomings: Since most of the core key technologies of CO2 lasers are in the hands of European and American manufacturers, most machines are expensive, with most machines priced at more than 2 million, and related maintenance costs such as accessories and consumables are extremely high. In addition, in practice The operating cost is very high, and the gas consumption during cutting is large.

Main market positioning: 6-25mm medium-thick plate cutting and processing, mainly for large and medium-sized enterprises and some laser cutting and processing enterprises that are purely external processing. However, due to insurmountable factors such as high laser maintenance consumption and high power consumption of the host, in recent years The market has been greatly impacted by solid-state laser cutting machines and fiber laser cutting machines, and the market is in a state of obvious shrinkage. It is estimated that with further development of lasers in the future, CO2 laser cutting machines will eventually be replaced by fiber laser cutting machines.

In the process of evaluating laser cutting machines, customers should choose different cutting equipment based on their own needs and cutting purposes.