Laser cutting uses a high-power laser to cut, drill or engrave materials with precision and cleanliness. Suitable materials include plastics, metals, ceramics, foam, wood, textiles, rubber, paper, and leather. The process is computer-controlled and uses CO2, Nd, or Nd YAG lasers, each suitable for different materials.
Laser cutting is a manufacturing process in which a high-power laser is used to cut, drill or engrave various materials. The process is characterized by extremely precise and clean cuts, making it ideal for high precision applications. When it comes to suitable laser cut materials, there is a huge range used in both industrial manufacturing and decorative applications, including a large selection of plastics, ceramics and a variety of metals. Different grades of foam can also be laser cut, as well as leather, paper and wood, among other materials. Laser cutting is usually done with three different types of lasers, not all of which are suitable for all laser-cut materials.
Technological advances in the high power laser industry have seen an increase in the number and variety of potential laser cut materials. Laser cutting is a process in which a computer-controlled high-power laser is directed to cut a shape from a sheet of material. The laser melts, or vaporizes, the material in a very finely focused area to obtain a cut with very little debris around its periphery. This, coupled with the inherent precision of computer control, makes laser cutting a high-precision process capable of making exceptionally clean and precise cuts.
A large selection of materials of various thicknesses are suitable for laser cutting. The process is typically used on flat sheets, although cylindrical and several other geometric shapes can be cut. Laser-cut materials include a large number of plastics, including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylics, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Mylar, nylon, and polypropylene (PP) can also be cut, although nylon and PP can melt unpredictably in the process.
Several metals are suitable for laser cutting, including mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Types of ceramic materials can also be cut or engraved using laser technology. Foam products such as Depron, Gatorfoam® and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) are also suitable materials for laser cutting, as are several types of wood sheet products including balsa and medium density fiberboard (MDF). A wide range of other materials such as textiles, rubber and paper as well as leather and magnetic stripe are also ideal for laser cutting.
One point to keep in mind when selecting materials for laser cutting is the type of laser involved. There are three basic types of lasers used in these operations, namely CO2, neodymium (Nd), and neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd YAG) lasers. Not all of these lasers are suitable for all materials, so it’s a good idea to check whether the material you choose is suitable for the laser in question.
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