Although laser cutting in Sydney has come a long way, there are some manufacturers who still show reluctance in adopting this technique. It is primarily due to the myths and misconceptions associated with laser cutting. Here is a list of top five myths related to laser cutting which you should know so that you can understand the truth about laser cutting:
Laser cutting is a new technique
It’s not new! The facts state that laser cutting was first introduced in the 1960s. From then on, it became highly popular and industries adopted this technique in the 80s. At present, laser cutting is considered as a well-established mature technology that is being used for millions of applications in different industries.
Laser cutting is complicated
Those who have used this technology will surely agree that laser cutting is simpler than many other mechanical cutting techniques. For instance, there is no need to cut a die and one does not have to switch tools when performing different jobs. The best part about laser is that it is programmable. Therefore one just needs to cut a pattern through drawing or CAD file. You will also be given an option of changing the depth of the cut by altering the power of the laser. Hence, you get a very fine and precise result without any mechanical cutting.
Laser tends to burn the material that is being cut
People perceive the term ‘burn’ differently. Lasers can only char the end surfaces of cut pieces of wood but it does not affect the other surfaces. Charring is also not sufficient enough to ‘burn away’ the edges. Therefore, you will surely get a clean and sharp edge that is of the exact dimensions you have specified. HAZ, known as heated affected zone of laser is quite small and because of this laser is known to be a perfect solution for cutting soft materials like plastic. There is absolutely no burning on other materials like plastics or metals. When plastics or composites are cut through lasers, it seals its edges.
You are unable to cut through transparent materials with laser
This is completely false as lasers are known to be an excellent tool for cutting all transparent materials. You can obtain a perfect result by cutting quartz, borosilicate, polysilicates, plastic and glass through laser.
Lasers can cut through any thickness
Perhaps people picture James Bond as they think about industrial laser cutting? Therefore, they feel that laser technology might not be suitable for their application. If you explore the benefits of laser technology, you will be surprised to see that laser cutting is ideal for cutting through a wide – not infinite – range of materials and thicknesses. Here are a few examples of maximum thickness you can tackle with laser cutting:
• For stainless steel: up to 1/8 inch
• Wood: half to three quarter of an inch
• Plastics: 3/16 to quarter of an inch
• Ceramics: up to 1/8 inch
When it comes to manufacturing, it is really important that the manufacturers investigate about all the possible techniques available to them before choosing any one for the purpose. There is a chance that laser cutting is a better and more accessible option than they have thought. There are many companies that are using this technique for quite a long time and reaping benefits. There is absolutely no need to pay heed to all the myths related to laser cutting. The technique is serving the world for many years and continues to do so till a better option is introduced in the market. If you are one those who have never thought of using laser cutting as part of your manufacturing, it is high time that you give it a second thought now!
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