How sheet metal laser cutting works

In laser cutting, generally speaking, an extremely strongly focused laser beam is directed at a point on the surface of the workpiece. The resulting high temperatures vaporise or melt the material at that point. Depending on the laser process used, so-called process gases are fed to the laser beam via a nozzle during the cutting process. The process gases can either enhance the reaction at the cutting point (in the case of reactive gases such as oxygen) or prevent unwanted effects such as oxidation – which is the case with inert gases such as argon or nitrogen.

Which laser systems are used in sheet metal working?

The classic in sheet metal working using lasers is the CO2 laser. This technology has beenused in industry for drilling, separating and cutting since 1964. CO2 lasers generate a strong beam of infrared light through electrically excited gas mixtures, are comparatively inexpensive and process-safe. Solid-state laser technology, on the other hand, is quite young and is divided into fibre, rod and disk lasers depending on the shape of the solid. Solid-state lasers rely on an amplifying medium of crystalline or amorphous solids that contain laser-active ions in precisely defined concentrations. Since 1995, solid-state lasers have replaced CO2 lasers in many cases due to significantly better beam qualities, power and efficiency.

For which procedures is laser suitable?

A laser can be used to perform a variety of sheet metal working operations. Common manufacturing processes in sheet metal working include:

Laser Flame Cutting

Laser flame cutting is used for thicker or ferrous sheet metal. In this process, oxygen is supplied from process gas, which reacts at the cut surface with the material melted by the laser. An exothermic reaction occurs that releases energy and burns the material in the cut joint.However, the cutting process oxidises the material on the cut surface, so that rework may be necessary.

Laser fusion cutting

Laser fusion cutting is particularly suitable for cutting thin sheets. Here, the material is melted by the laser at the interface and blown out of the joint by a supplied, inert process gas. The immediate removal of the melted material prevents oxidation at the kerf. In many cases, this means that no further rework is necessary after laser processing – because burrs do not occur during laser fusion cutting either.

When is laser cutting of sheet metal advantageous?

Laser machining also allows small batch sizes to be produced flexibly and without the need for special tools. The laser cuts any, even highly complex contours from the sheet metal – with minimal set-up effort. Expensive, because unproductive, set-up and non-productive times in the laser processing of sheet metal are almost completely eliminated. Another advantage is that laser fusion cutting does not produce any burrs at the kerf. This makes rework unnecessary.
Whenever small quantities have to be produced or orders with expected, rapid changes to the contour have to be realised, the laser has an advantage over conventional methods in sheet metal working. When it comes to series production of large or exceptionally large quantities with the same contour every time, however, conventional processes such as punching are still more economical because they are much faster.

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