How to choose a laser machine for metal cutting?

Owners of industrial enterprises for the manufacture of metal products are paying increasingly careful attention to laser machines for metal cutting, which feature versatility, reliability and high precision. That goes without saying: when purchasing such equipment, the question arises quite naturally - what characteristics of the machine should be paid attention to so that the equipment is optimally suited to the task at hand?

 That's what we're going to explore in this article. In particular, you will find out:

• what advantages fiber laser systems have over other types of machines for cutting of metal workpieces;
• which industries use laser metalworking machines;
• what are the main parts of such a cutting machine;
• equipment selection criteria.

Ready? Let’s go then!

Advantages of a laser machine for metal cutting

The list of the laser metalworking machine’s advantages includes the following operational and technical features:

1. No need for finishing of workpieces, as the laser provides clean and smooth cut. After cutting, the parts can be immediately handed on to the assembly line or painting section.
2. High productivity of the equipment. The laser cutter can move over the surface of the workpiece at speeds of up to 350 m/min. This is impossible to achieve with other metalworking machines.
3. High cutting accuracy due to the small diameter of the light beam, which can burn holes thinner than a human hair in metal.
4. Positioning precision allows the machine to cut out parts with complex geometric configuration without any problems. Also owing to this feature of the laser equipment the amount of waste is minimized. This is due to the workpieces nesting on the metal sheet as close to each other as possible.
5. Prevention of deformations and mechanical damage to the workpiece in process of machining as the cutting method is contactless.
6. Minimum percentage of rejected output units as the human factor is excluded. All laser cutter movements are controlled by a computer program, this guarantees complete identity of the machined parts in serial and mass production.

Where are laser metal cutting machines used?

All the advantages of laser equipment listed in the previous section open up a wide range of applications. In particular, such systemss are used for the manufacturing of various parts in:

• automotive industry,
• aircraft, ship and rocket construction,
• jewelry and medical industries,
• electrical engineering,
• machine building and defense industry,
• air conditioning and heating technology,
• as well as in other industries where metal cutting and tailoring is needed.

Here are just a few examples of what can be made with a laser metal cutting machine: 

• decorative metal elements for furniture and fences
• parts for electrical and laboratory equipment; 
• for machine building and instrumentation engineering, 
• For defense and airspace industries, etc.

Now that you know about the advantages and scope of application of laser metal cutting equipment, you are probably curious to know what components and parts make up such machines. This is exactly what the next section of our guide is about.

What does a laser metal cutting machine consist of?

The main components of the laser metal cutting equipment are:

1. Laser emission source, A source that generates a light beam, which is transmitted to the laser head via a special fiber optic cable. There is a wide variety of such devices, which differ from each other by the principle of operation and cost. We will give more details about emitters in one of our next articles.
2. Optical head that receives the beam from the source and focuses it on the surface of a metal workpiece. In the nearest time we will devote a separate article to the settings and advantages of such products. Follow the updates on our site, so that you do not miss another useful and interesting material.
3. Linear motor ensures high positioning precision of the laser machine for cutting of metal, smooth and uniform movement of the laser head and table, high static rigidity of the drive as a whole.
4. Control system and software are responsible for the convenience of equipment control, its precision and productivity.
5. Support frame, which is the basis for the entire machine. It is this design element that determines which assemblies and components can be installed on the machine. The thickness and material of the frame is largely determined by the technical characteristics of the equipment and the tasks that are assigned to it.
6. Chiller, which performs the cooling system function. This element has two separate circuits: one for the source and another for the laser head. 
7. Ventilation system or, as it is also called, fume extraction system. Such elements are of two types: general, which removes combustion products from the entire area of the machine at the same time, and point ventilation, which works only at the location of the laser head.
8. Electrical wiring: correct operation of all equipment depends on its quality.

These are only the main components of the machine for laser cutting of metal. More detailed information about other elements of such equipment design can always be presented by our managers.

How to choose the right machine for laser metal cutting?

At last, we have come to the main question of our article – what criteria should be used when choosing laser equipment for metal cutting? There are some of them.

Thickness of workpiece material

As you can guess, the thicker the metal to be machined, the more powerful the laser machine, and more specifically its laser source, must be. This entails an increase in the rigidity of the frame, the power of the motor, and the reliability of other parts and components. We will soon devote a separate article to the consideration of this issue. So follow the updates on our website and do not miss important and interesting information.

! The thicker the metal to be machined, the more powerful the laser machine, or more precisely, its laser emission source, must be.

Tasks the equipment is purchased for

If you plan to use laser equipment to manufacture single non-serial products, or there is no need to cut thick metal, then an open-type machine with a power of 2-3 kW is quite suitable for you.

In case of mass production of parts with more strict requirements to cutting precision and productivity it is necessary to choose more powerful systems with a 4-12 kW source and with a system of interchangeable tables.

If there is a need to cut thick metal, 10-15 mm thick, but there is no need for high productivity of the machine – it will be enough to choose open-type equipment with a 4-6 kW laser head.

Basically, in this case, it is necessary to be guided by the principle of sufficiency and choose equipment depending on the tasks assigned to it. But at the same time do not forget to think ahead and realize that a high-power machine can always be loaded with work, for example, providing metal cutting services, but it is much more difficult and costly to increase the productivity of a simple machine.

It is worth thinking ahead and realizing that a high-power machine can always be loaded with work, for example, providing metal cutting services, but it is much more difficult and costly to increase the productivity of a simple machine.

Seller’s service and technical support

A metal cutting laser machine is an expensive piece of equipment, the payback of which directly depends on the continuity of its operation. In order to prevent the equipment from standing idle for months in case of breakdown – before making a purchase, ask the seller about the availability of spare parts and maintenance services for the machine. 

! We provide a full range of setup and maintenance services for laser metalworking machines, and our technicians are capable of fixing even the most complex breakdown in recordingly short time.

Motor

The heart of any machine. When choosing this type of equipment, we recommend you to opt for machines with linear motors, which provide higher positioning precision, smooth and even motion of the laser head and table, high static rigidity of the drive as a whole.

Linear motors provide higher positioning precision, smooth and even running of the laser head and table, high static rigidity of the drive as a whole.

Also, pay additional attention to the design and material of the frame. Cast products or bases made of thick metal channels have much longer service life.

Personnel training to operate the laser machine

As an additional service, we provide training for your personnel on the laser metal cutting machine. During the course we cover the following points in detail:

• equipment arrangement and design;
• maintenance nuances;
• selection of settings for different metal thicknesses;
• selection of cutting modes (parameters).

Thanks to such a training, your employees will have all the necessary knowledge and skills to operate the laser machine. This, in turn, will optimize production processes and minimize the risk of defects.

If you still have questions, please contact our managers in any convenient way. Our specialists will provide you with all the information you are interested in, help you to select the equipment depending on the assigned tasks and peculiarities of your business, and organize the delivery of the machine to your production site.